Mike Newell

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A film director of sure hand and considerable range, Mike Newell credits his ability to juggle numerous genres and subject matters to his diverse assignments and early experiences in British television. Generally shunned as a redheaded stepson to film, Newell considers television a key component in the scheme of the entertainment industry, claiming that his work at Granada Television fueled his versatility by allowing him the room for experimentation that the non-existent British film industry of the late '60s and early '70s couldn't provide.

Born in England in March of 1942, Newell studied at Cambridge, later moving on to work at Granada Television as a trainee in 1963, where he worked in various aspects of production for several years before making his TV directorial debut. Spawning such contemporaries as Ken Loach, Stephen Frears, and Michael Apted, television work provided the creative outlet that many young filmmakers of the time so desperately needed.

Newell's U.K. television feature debut, The Man in the Iron Mask (1977) served as his springboard to international success, finding theatrical release in the U.S. Continuing with work in television in the following years, Newell began to concentrate on his attempts to move into feature territory in the late '70s. Newell's first theatrical feature The Awakening (1980), a U.S./U.K. co-produced adaptation of Bram Stoker's Jewel of the Seven Stars, earned mixed reviews, though it began to cement Newell's reputation as a talented and versatile director with a gift for getting the best performances possible from his actors.

Following Awakening with Bad Blood (1982), a disturbing study in small town alienation set in New Zealand, Newell continued to refine his gift for darkly enchanting, personalized films on a feature level. Working through the remainder of the decade in multiple genres, including crime (Dance With a Stranger, [1985]), drama (Soursweet, [1989]), and the activist sports drama Amazing Grace and Chuck (1987), Newell proved time and again that his sure directorial hand and sharp eye for storytelling transcended genre restrictions in favor of deeply rooted character studies.

Though he had over 54 credits to his name upon entering the final decade of the millennium, the 1990s proved to be the decade in which Newell began to gain the international recognition that he so richly deserved. Making his '90s theatrical debut with the charmingly romantic Enchanted April (1992), Newell continued with a critically praised melancholy family fable in 1993, Into the West, before making his breakthrough with the influential romantic comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994).

Offered directorial hand on a slew of similarly themed romantic comedies in the wake of the success of Four Weddings (including Notting Hill, [1999]), and taking advantage of one such offer with the less successful Hugh Grant comedy An Awfully Big Adventure, Newell proved his versatility and struck gold again in 1997, with Donnie Brasco. In 1999, Newell spun a tale of dysfunctional air-traffic controllers with Pushing Tin, "a movie about people crashes, not plane crashes."

Filmography: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Prince of Persia Sands of Time,

Latest Mike Newell News, Opinion & Discussion:

Jerry Bruckheimer Interview, Prince of Persia
Uber-producer Jerry Bruckheimer loves bringing audiences into new worlds they haven’t yet explored and ancient Persia is one of the most wonde...

Sir Ben Kingsley Interview, Prince of Persia
After earning an Academy Award, two Golden Globes and two BAFTA Awards for his riveting portrayal of Indian social leader Mahatma Gandhi, Sir Ben King... Jerry Bruckheimer Interview, Confessions of a Shopaholic
MoviesOnline caught up recently with producer Jerry Bruckheimer at the Los Angeles press day for his new comedy, "Confessions of a Shopaholic,” ... Winners Love in the Time of Cholera DVDs
We have 5 copies of Love in the Time of Cholera up for grabs for you lucky readers and its finally time to pick the winners. In the lush tropics ... Orlando Blooom NOT The Prince of Persia
Earlier according to JustJared Orlando Bloom was tapped to play the Prince in Prince of Persia for a three picture, $40million deal. Well Walt Disney ... Orlando Blooom is the Prince of Persia
According to JustJared Orlando Bloom has been tapped to play the prince in Prince of Persia and will make $40million for the three picture deal. ... Win Love in the Time of Cholera on DVD
We have 5 copies of Love in the Time of Cholera up for grabs for you lucky readers. In the lush tropics of South America, an innocent desire blossoms ... Prince of Persia Begins Shooting in June
From studio production charts we have news that the film Prince of Persia will begin shooting in June. On top of that we have the synopsis... Jerry Bruckheimer Interview, National Treasure : Book of Secrets
MoviesOnline caught up recently with producer Jerry Bruckheimer at the Los Angeles press day for his new movie, “National Treasure: Book of ... Michael Bay Not Directing Prince of Persia
A long time ago it was repoted that Prince of Persia the Sands of Time would be directed by Michael Bay. Now from Variety comes word that Mike Newell ... Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Interviews
MoviesOnline sat down with producers David Heyman and David Barron, director David Yates, screenwriter Michael Goldenberg, and actor Imelda St... Topher Grace, Spider Man 3 Interview
We had a chance to catch up with Topher Grace and talk to him about his role in SpiderMan 3. Topher Grace (Eddie Brock/Venom), who was a... Donnie Brasco Extended Cut on DVD May 8th
From acclaimed director Mike Newell (Harry Potter & The Goblet Of Fire, Four Weddings and a Funeral), the gangster classic Donnie Brasco, star... Al Pacino receives AFI's Life Achievement Award
Al Pacino has been selected by the American Film Institute's (AFI) Board of Trustees to receive the 35th AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest hon... Harry Potter Reviews : Over a Dozen Views
So Harry Potter has hit the theatres and the verdict is in. It has made over 101million but fans are mixed. Never before have we had such vocal reader... Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Reviews Galore!
Harry Potter has hit the big screen and the fans have now come in, as well as our critics with their reviews. It's a mix of love, hate, and eve... Watch todays World Premiere of Harry Potter 4!
Want to take a look at the Red Carpet when Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Mike Newell and Joanne K. Rowling are heading to the world pre... New Harry Potter 4 TV-Trailer !
Warner Bros. just provided us with the new TV Spot for the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", directed by Mike Newell. The movie comes to... Harry Potter TV Trailers and official website updated
Warner Brothers has updated the official website for "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". You can now take a look at new character profiles and v... New international Harry Potter 4 Poster online
A new international poster for "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" went online at our colleagues from Latino Review. They got an exclusive look ... 3 new Harry Potter 4 movie photos
THX to our partners from Movie-Infos we have 3 new pics for Mike Newell's "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". In the fourth movie Harry wants to ge... Harry Potter 4 - Trailer, Poster and Official Site !
The official Trailer and website for Mike Newell's upcoming Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire are online. And also a new Teaser Poster has been rele... New Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire pictures
The French colleagues from Poudlard.org found some new pics for Mike Newell's upcoming movie "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". They are from the ... Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Teaser Poster
Today we uploaded the first Teaser Poster for Mike Newell's upcoming "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". The pivotal fourth novel in the seven... Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire Begins Filiming
Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire has just begun Principal photography. This is going to be the fourth film in the Potter series based on ...