Willem Dafoe is a fan favorite after having portrayed several iconic villains in his decades-long career in the film industry. Yet it is his portrayal of Green Goblin in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man that has been widely hailed as one of the best roles he has ever done.
Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn in a still from Spider-Man: No Way Home
From his chilling blue eyes to his menacing smile that can go from warm to blood-curling in the flash of a second, Dafoe is one of those actors who was bound to play a villain. And his portrayal of Green Goblin is no short of a cinematic wonder, for such great was his acting, that even Tom Holland got horrified while filming Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Willem Dafoe Terrified Tom Holland With His Green Goblin Portrayal
Dafoe’s laugh in this No Way Home scene terrified Tom Holland
Willem Dafoe,...
Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn in a still from Spider-Man: No Way Home
From his chilling blue eyes to his menacing smile that can go from warm to blood-curling in the flash of a second, Dafoe is one of those actors who was bound to play a villain. And his portrayal of Green Goblin is no short of a cinematic wonder, for such great was his acting, that even Tom Holland got horrified while filming Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Willem Dafoe Terrified Tom Holland With His Green Goblin Portrayal
Dafoe’s laugh in this No Way Home scene terrified Tom Holland
Willem Dafoe,...
- 4/29/2024
- by Maria Sultan
- FandomWire
Glenn Kendrick Ackermann will kick off worldwide sales in Cannes through his V International Media on the supernatural drama Can You Hear Me starring Peter Facinelli from The Twilight Saga.
Charlotte Radford, who starred alongside Daryl Hannah in The American Connection, also stars and wrote the screenplay.
The cast includes James Cosmo from Game Of Thrones, John Standing from The Crown, Matt Barber of Downton Abbey, and Jane Thorne from Night Train To Lisbon.
Simon Hunter, who helmed Mutant Chronicles, directs the story about the whirlwind romance and marriage between Annabel and Samuel, an American soldier who is severely wounded in the first World War.
Charlotte Radford, who starred alongside Daryl Hannah in The American Connection, also stars and wrote the screenplay.
The cast includes James Cosmo from Game Of Thrones, John Standing from The Crown, Matt Barber of Downton Abbey, and Jane Thorne from Night Train To Lisbon.
Simon Hunter, who helmed Mutant Chronicles, directs the story about the whirlwind romance and marriage between Annabel and Samuel, an American soldier who is severely wounded in the first World War.
- 4/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
Moments after the Academy Awards announced their 2024 slate of nominations in all 23 categories, Gold Derby’s Editors got together to dish all of the egregious snubs and pleasant surprises. Denton Davidson, Marcus James Dixon, Daniel Montgomery and Ray Richmond also gave their early forecasts for who they think will win in many of the exciting races. Do Your reactions line up with theirs? Watch our 2024 Oscar nominations discussion video above and then make your predictions at Gold Derby.
The editors begin by mentioning the films with the biggest nominee totals: “Oppenheimer” at 13, “Poor Things” at 11, “Killers of the Flower Moon” at 10 and “Barbie” at eight. Not too shabby!
See 2024 Oscar nominations: Full list of nominees in all 23 categories
“Eight for ‘Barbie’ is a fantastic number,” says Marcus before clarifying, “But, where is the actress? Where is the director? I am so livid!” Thankfully, Greta Gerwig (who was snubbed for Best...
The editors begin by mentioning the films with the biggest nominee totals: “Oppenheimer” at 13, “Poor Things” at 11, “Killers of the Flower Moon” at 10 and “Barbie” at eight. Not too shabby!
See 2024 Oscar nominations: Full list of nominees in all 23 categories
“Eight for ‘Barbie’ is a fantastic number,” says Marcus before clarifying, “But, where is the actress? Where is the director? I am so livid!” Thankfully, Greta Gerwig (who was snubbed for Best...
- 1/23/2024
- by Denton Davidson, Marcus James Dixon, Daniel Montgomery and Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
Mark Ruffalo gives what might just be the greatest performance of his career in "Poor Things." Yorgo Lanthimos' dark Victorian-era sci-fi comedy casts the notoriously loose-lipped Oscar nominee as the lawyer Duncan Wedderburn, an-out-and-proud cad who falls hard for Bella Baxter (Emma Stone), oblivious to the twisted truth behind the mysterious woman's eccentric nature. However, as Bella's mind rapidly evolves and she begins to lose interest in Duncan, his debonair facade swiftly melts away, revealing that he's really nothing more than an insecure, entitled clown who would sooner pull his hair out and pettily sabotage Bella's attempts to lead a happy life of her choosing than allow her to end their relationship.
/FIlm's Jeremy Mathai rightly declared Duncan the best movie villain of 2023, praising both "Ruffalo's utter commitment to the bit and writer Tony McNamara's razor-sharp wit." It helps that Ruffalo tends to play good-natured and noble characters like...
/FIlm's Jeremy Mathai rightly declared Duncan the best movie villain of 2023, praising both "Ruffalo's utter commitment to the bit and writer Tony McNamara's razor-sharp wit." It helps that Ruffalo tends to play good-natured and noble characters like...
- 1/20/2024
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
This article first appeared as part of Jenelle Riley’s Acting Up newsletter – to subscribe for early content and weekly updates on all things acting, visit the Acting Up signup page.
cast and crew of “Poor Things” teased Mark Ruffalo about replacing him with Oscar Isaac — even bringing the other actor to set one day.
Despite having two Oscar nominations and starring in blockbusters such as “Avengers: Endgame,” Ruffalo sometimes grapples with imposter syndrome. The actor admitted this during a recent conversation with his “Poor Things” peers — director Yorgos Lanthimos, writer Tony McNamara and fellow cast members Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe and Ramy Yousef.
Ruffalo was offered the role of rakish attorney Duncan Wedderburn and recalled how he was sent the script. “I thought it was pretty amazing,” he noted. “But I doubted my ability to do it, to be honest with you. I was scared of it. Even to...
cast and crew of “Poor Things” teased Mark Ruffalo about replacing him with Oscar Isaac — even bringing the other actor to set one day.
Despite having two Oscar nominations and starring in blockbusters such as “Avengers: Endgame,” Ruffalo sometimes grapples with imposter syndrome. The actor admitted this during a recent conversation with his “Poor Things” peers — director Yorgos Lanthimos, writer Tony McNamara and fellow cast members Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe and Ramy Yousef.
Ruffalo was offered the role of rakish attorney Duncan Wedderburn and recalled how he was sent the script. “I thought it was pretty amazing,” he noted. “But I doubted my ability to do it, to be honest with you. I was scared of it. Even to...
- 1/18/2024
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
Willem Dafoe is playing a "dead person" in 'Beetlejuice 2'.The 68-year-old actor features in the cast of Tim Burton's long-awaited sequel to his 1988 fantasy horror comedy film and revealed how he plays a ghostly detective who was a B movie star before his death.Speaking to Variety at the Marrakech Film Festival, Willem said: "I haven't seen any footage yet, but it was fun to do. I play a police officer in the afterlife, so I'm a dead person. And in life I was a B movie action star, but I had an accident and that's what sent me to the other side."But because of my skills, I became a detective character in the afterlife. So that's my job. But it's coloured by the fact of who I was (when I was alive): a B movie action star."Meanwhile, Willem portrays the unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin...
- 11/27/2023
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Willem Dafoe is revealing the character he will play in Beetlejuice 2.
The upcoming sequel to Tim Burton‘s 1988 film Beetlejuice will also star Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Catherine O’Hara.
Beetlejuice 2 is currently scheduled to release on September 6, 2024.
Keep reading to learn more about Willem’s character…
During an interview with Variety, published on Sunday, Willem provided some details about his Beetlejuice 2 role.
“I haven’t seen any footage yet, but it was fun to do,” he said about the movie. “I play a police officer in the afterlife, so I’m a dead person. And in life I was a B-movie action star, but I had an accident and that’s what sent me to the other side.”
Earlier this month, Jenna Ortega was spotted riding a bike on the set Beetlejuice 2 in Boston, and we have the photos!
Also, check...
The upcoming sequel to Tim Burton‘s 1988 film Beetlejuice will also star Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Catherine O’Hara.
Beetlejuice 2 is currently scheduled to release on September 6, 2024.
Keep reading to learn more about Willem’s character…
During an interview with Variety, published on Sunday, Willem provided some details about his Beetlejuice 2 role.
“I haven’t seen any footage yet, but it was fun to do,” he said about the movie. “I play a police officer in the afterlife, so I’m a dead person. And in life I was a B-movie action star, but I had an accident and that’s what sent me to the other side.”
Earlier this month, Jenna Ortega was spotted riding a bike on the set Beetlejuice 2 in Boston, and we have the photos!
Also, check...
- 11/27/2023
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
Willem Dafoe endured sleepless nights to have his makeup applied for 'Poor Things'.The 68-year-old actor stars in Yorgos Lanthimos' movie as the disfigured scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter and explained that he had to go through a gruelling process simply to get into character.Speaking to Vanity Fair magazine, Willem said: "Four hours in, two hours out every day - I'm showing up a three o'clock in the morning, sitting in the chair, meditating and trying to deal with standing still. You can't sleep because it's intricate enough that you've got to work with the people applying it."Then everybody else comes in at seven o'clock, and your day starts. You do a full day. Then you take it off. It's a grind, but I liked working with a mask in there - quite literally, a mask."Dafoe also revealed that he was given the nickname 'Kirk' on set because...
- 11/12/2023
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
After weeks and months of waiting, wondering if the movie will be delayed, maybe even canceled, the upcoming ‘Aquaman’ sequel finally received the first official trailer earlier this week. The trailer promises another visually stunning adventure in which Jason Momoa’s titular character will need to team with his former adversary and half-brother Orm to stop the returning villain Black Manta, who plans to get a hold of Black Trident to exact his revenge on Aquaman.
What’s interesting about ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ is that, unlike many superhero sequels, it won’t introduce a new villain but continues the storyline from the previous movie. Black Manta, the supporting antagonist from the previous movie, now returns as the main villain, while Orm, the main antagonist of the previous movie, will return as a supporting anti-hero. That’s how it seems for now, at least.
All the other supporting characters...
What’s interesting about ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ is that, unlike many superhero sequels, it won’t introduce a new villain but continues the storyline from the previous movie. Black Manta, the supporting antagonist from the previous movie, now returns as the main villain, while Orm, the main antagonist of the previous movie, will return as a supporting anti-hero. That’s how it seems for now, at least.
All the other supporting characters...
- 9/16/2023
- by Lukas Abramovich
- Comic Basics
The first trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was finally released this morning, just months before the sequel is slated to hit theaters. Most everyone has returned to reprise their roles, but there is one notable absence: Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, Aquaman’s mentor.
While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom director James Wan confirmed that Willem Dafoe will not be making an appearance in the sequel. “Willem is not in this one, no,” Wan said. “Part of the reason was because his schedule did not work out for us. But what that allowed me to do was expand on Atlanna’s role. Atlanna in this one ultimately becomes Arthur’s advisor. Because Arthur’s not from this world, she helps him better understand the world and the politics of how things work.” Nuidis Vulko was a definite highlight of the first Aquaman movie for me,...
While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom director James Wan confirmed that Willem Dafoe will not be making an appearance in the sequel. “Willem is not in this one, no,” Wan said. “Part of the reason was because his schedule did not work out for us. But what that allowed me to do was expand on Atlanna’s role. Atlanna in this one ultimately becomes Arthur’s advisor. Because Arthur’s not from this world, she helps him better understand the world and the politics of how things work.” Nuidis Vulko was a definite highlight of the first Aquaman movie for me,...
- 9/14/2023
- by Kevin Fraser
- JoBlo.com
When Patricia Arquette decided to make her feature film directing debut with “Gonzo Girl,” she made a promise to her cast.
“I told them that I would always edit everything for the acting — even if the camera work wasn’t the best in that take or some thing didn’t match from a continuity perspective,” she says a week before the movie’s big premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. “I don’t think someone has ever edited my performance directly for the acting, so I wanted to do this greedy, delicious thing for my ensemble. I wanted to create a space for great acting.”
It helps, of course, that the star of “Gonzo Girl” is none other than Willem Dafoe, a four-time Oscar nominee, as well as rising talents such as Camila Morrone of “Daisy Jones & the Six.” And that kind of creative freedom, and not big salaries,...
“I told them that I would always edit everything for the acting — even if the camera work wasn’t the best in that take or some thing didn’t match from a continuity perspective,” she says a week before the movie’s big premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. “I don’t think someone has ever edited my performance directly for the acting, so I wanted to do this greedy, delicious thing for my ensemble. I wanted to create a space for great acting.”
It helps, of course, that the star of “Gonzo Girl” is none other than Willem Dafoe, a four-time Oscar nominee, as well as rising talents such as Camila Morrone of “Daisy Jones & the Six.” And that kind of creative freedom, and not big salaries,...
- 9/8/2023
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Willem Dafoe once got down and dirty for the sake of art.
The “Inside” and “Poor Things” actor recalled during the “Smartless” podcast an experimental theater piece titled “Hula” that he performed with New York City’s The Wooster Group troupe in 1982.
Dafoe explained that the group “needed to do something light and easy” after director Elizabeth LeCompte lost her father. Dafoe and his co-stars “took an old Hawaiian record from the ’50s — really corny, y’know, Hawaiian music — and we got some grass skirts and some leis, and someone painted a backdrop, and we invented these dances, we just made them up, and we’d do the dances to this music, you know?”
He continued, “The gag was, to make it stick, under our grass skirts, we weren’t wearing anything, so it was two men and a woman, and she was also not wearing anything, and bare-breasted. So we did this show,...
The “Inside” and “Poor Things” actor recalled during the “Smartless” podcast an experimental theater piece titled “Hula” that he performed with New York City’s The Wooster Group troupe in 1982.
Dafoe explained that the group “needed to do something light and easy” after director Elizabeth LeCompte lost her father. Dafoe and his co-stars “took an old Hawaiian record from the ’50s — really corny, y’know, Hawaiian music — and we got some grass skirts and some leis, and someone painted a backdrop, and we invented these dances, we just made them up, and we’d do the dances to this music, you know?”
He continued, “The gag was, to make it stick, under our grass skirts, we weren’t wearing anything, so it was two men and a woman, and she was also not wearing anything, and bare-breasted. So we did this show,...
- 8/31/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Patricia Arquette encouraged her cast to get a little gonzo on the set of “Gonzo Girl.”
Arquette makes her feature directorial debut with the adaptation of Cheryl Della Pietra’s 2015 novel of the same name, which is inspired by journalist Pietra’s experience working as Hunter S. Thompson’s assistant. Willem Dafoe stars as the Thompson stand-in, named Walker Reade in the book, with “Daisy Jones and the Six” Emmy nominee Camila Morrone as the author-slash-aforementioned assistant, Alley Russo. The film is premiering at TIFF and also stars Ray Nicholson and Elizabeth Lail, as well as director Arquette.
Morrone told Interview magazine that Arquette cast her after a single audition tape and before meeting via Zoom or in-person. Arquette encouraged co-stars Morrone and Dafoe to do “crazy experimental rehearsals” to hone in on the tumultuous relationship onscreen.
“Willem is such an experienced artist. I just thought, ‘How the hell am...
Arquette makes her feature directorial debut with the adaptation of Cheryl Della Pietra’s 2015 novel of the same name, which is inspired by journalist Pietra’s experience working as Hunter S. Thompson’s assistant. Willem Dafoe stars as the Thompson stand-in, named Walker Reade in the book, with “Daisy Jones and the Six” Emmy nominee Camila Morrone as the author-slash-aforementioned assistant, Alley Russo. The film is premiering at TIFF and also stars Ray Nicholson and Elizabeth Lail, as well as director Arquette.
Morrone told Interview magazine that Arquette cast her after a single audition tape and before meeting via Zoom or in-person. Arquette encouraged co-stars Morrone and Dafoe to do “crazy experimental rehearsals” to hone in on the tumultuous relationship onscreen.
“Willem is such an experienced artist. I just thought, ‘How the hell am...
- 8/28/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Robert Eggers is grateful to have had more experience directing intense ensemble films prior to sinking his teeth into his long-gestating “Nosferatu” remake.
The writer-director revealed to Empire magazine that he is grateful to have helmed Viking epic “The Northman” before tackling “Nosferatu,” which has been in the works since 2016. Eggers’ lifelong goal has been to remake the 1922 vampire classic by F. W. Murnau; Eggers’ muse Anya Taylor-Joy was officially cast in the project by 2017 but left the project last year due to scheduling conflicts.
“I’m trying to go beyond what I’m capable of,” Eggers told Empire. “As always, it was a difficult shoot. Last night we were doing a scene on a ship with a lot of rain and waves, and the rain deflector, which tries to blow rain out of the lens, was breaking down and fogging. I spent the past several days working only with Russian sailors on a boat.
The writer-director revealed to Empire magazine that he is grateful to have helmed Viking epic “The Northman” before tackling “Nosferatu,” which has been in the works since 2016. Eggers’ lifelong goal has been to remake the 1922 vampire classic by F. W. Murnau; Eggers’ muse Anya Taylor-Joy was officially cast in the project by 2017 but left the project last year due to scheduling conflicts.
“I’m trying to go beyond what I’m capable of,” Eggers told Empire. “As always, it was a difficult shoot. Last night we were doing a scene on a ship with a lot of rain and waves, and the rain deflector, which tries to blow rain out of the lens, was breaking down and fogging. I spent the past several days working only with Russian sailors on a boat.
- 7/5/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Cineverse announced today that they have acquired all North American rights to the mind-bending Australian horror film Subject. Gritty and cerebral, the film premiered at the Monster Film Festival and has been featured at festivals around the world including the upcoming Chattanooga Film Festival and was even selected for Cannes’ Frontières showcase.
Subject will premiere on Cineverse’s horror streaming platform, Screambox, which is powered by Bloody Disgusting, as a Screambox Original.
From award-winning director Tristan Barr (Good Times), Subject follows a man ensnared in a sinister government experiment. On his way to prison, Willem is presented with an intriguing offer: take part in a shadowy government experiment and have his sentence commuted.
But little does he know his isolation experiment may not be what it seems, casting doubt upon his perceived solitude and raising questions about his true state of aloneness.
“Subject is an isolating experience that pulls you...
Subject will premiere on Cineverse’s horror streaming platform, Screambox, which is powered by Bloody Disgusting, as a Screambox Original.
From award-winning director Tristan Barr (Good Times), Subject follows a man ensnared in a sinister government experiment. On his way to prison, Willem is presented with an intriguing offer: take part in a shadowy government experiment and have his sentence commuted.
But little does he know his isolation experiment may not be what it seems, casting doubt upon his perceived solitude and raising questions about his true state of aloneness.
“Subject is an isolating experience that pulls you...
- 5/26/2023
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
Los Angeles, March 20 (Ians) Hollywood star Willem Dafoe found playing a largely silent role in ‘Inside’ a pleasure.
The 67-year-old actor takes on the role of art thief Nemo, who gets trapped inside a New York penthouse when a heist goes wrong. He insisted that it didn’t seem like a “challenge” having to get across his character’s emotions with his actions and body language rather than dialogue, reports aceshowbiz.com.
“I didn’t see it as a problem or a challenge, that was the pleasure. That was the opportunity, to tell you the truth. Just a different way of doing things, not using words so much, not bouncing off other people, bouncing off of places, things, objects,” he told ComingSoon.net.
The movie was shot chronologically and Willem insisted the filmmaking process was an “actor’s dream.”
He said: “It was a very task-oriented performance. That’s where you start,...
The 67-year-old actor takes on the role of art thief Nemo, who gets trapped inside a New York penthouse when a heist goes wrong. He insisted that it didn’t seem like a “challenge” having to get across his character’s emotions with his actions and body language rather than dialogue, reports aceshowbiz.com.
“I didn’t see it as a problem or a challenge, that was the pleasure. That was the opportunity, to tell you the truth. Just a different way of doing things, not using words so much, not bouncing off other people, bouncing off of places, things, objects,” he told ComingSoon.net.
The movie was shot chronologically and Willem insisted the filmmaking process was an “actor’s dream.”
He said: “It was a very task-oriented performance. That’s where you start,...
- 3/20/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
The Dutch royal family turned out to celebrate Prince's Day yesterday (19.09.12). Queen Beatrix, Princess Maxima, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and other members of the royal family greeted well wishers from the balcony of Noordeinde Palace in Amsterdam at the culmination of a parade through the city. The royal party had earlier been pulled through the city on an elaborate horse-drawn carriage. Dressed in all their finery, the group stopped off at Ridderzaal, known as Knight's Hall, for the official opening of the country's parliament. Beatrix also made her annual address to parliament, as is tradition on Prince's Day - held every third Thursday in September - as she read a speech written by Prime Minister Mark...
- 9/20/2012
- Monsters and Critics
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