Kiefer Sutherland stars in ‘Tinsel City’. Picture: Brainstorm Media.
Opening in theaters and on VOD on November twenty first is the brand new Christmas film ‘Tinsel City’, which was directed by Chris Foggin (‘That is Christmas’), and stars Kiefer Sutherland (‘24’), Insurgent Wilson (‘Pitch Good’), Alice Eve (‘Star Trek Into Darkness’), and Derek Jacobi (‘The King’s Speech’).
“Star-struck at Christmas.”
Launch Date: Nov 28, 2025
Run Time: 1 hr 34 min
Moviefone not too long ago had the pleasure of talking with Kiefer Sutherland about his work on ‘Tinsel City’, his first response to the screenplay, making his first Christmas film, his character and his relationship to his daughter, the UK’s vacation custom of pantomime, and dealing with the forged and director Chris Foggin, in addition to an replace on the way forward for ‘24’ and what it was like appearing reverse Al Pacino within the upcoming ‘Father Joe’.
Associated Article: Kiefer Sutherland Teases Potential Return for ‘24’, Has Seen a Script
(L to R) Kiefer Sutherland and Insurgent Wilson star in ‘Tinsel City’. Picture: Brainstorm Media.
Moviefone: To start with, are you able to discuss your first response to the screenplay and is that this the primary Christmas film you’ve ever made?
Kiefer Sutherland: It’s the first Christmas film that I’ve ever been in, and I used to be actually moved by the script. Clearly, this isn’t one thing that I usually do, a comedy that’s as broad as this. I assumed it was extremely humorous. I believe the British make these sorts of flicks, form of a warmhearted tales, they do them nicely. Chris Foggin is a implausible director, however I liked the script. I discovered it very humorous, and I simply thought it was a pleasant story about somebody who had misplaced their approach as a human being, and the worst their life received, the higher human being they turned. I believe that is a form of a beautiful fable. I discovered that the stuff between him and his daughter to be actually transferring as nicely. So, it had a whole lot of components, whether or not it was the comedy and a touching drama on the identical time, and it form of got here collectively. Piers Ashwood, who wrote the screenplay, I believe simply did a masterful job. So, I assumed it was very humorous instantly and I used to be excited to be part of it.
MF: Your character, Bradley Mack, is a tough Hollywood actor. Did you draw affect from any tough actors that you’ve got labored with alongside the best way?
KS: Properly, I believe first off, I needed to take a really severe take a look at myself, proper? I believe over 43 years, I believe there’s in all probability been moments the place I’ve possibly been tough. Definitely, in my youthful years, I do know that once you’re looking for your approach, you can also make some errors and issues like that. So, I drew upon these recollections. Then, sure, I’ve seen another actors be form of demanding and possibly extra demanding than their expertise deserved, and Bradley Mack is form of an ideal composite of that. What I actually appreciated once more concerning the screenplay is that he is not a nasty individual. He is simply gone down a nasty path, and that all of us can discover our approach again. That is actually what the movie is about. It is simply informed in a really humorous approach.
Kiefer Sutherland stars in ‘Tinsel City’. Picture: Brainstorm Media.
MF: Bradley Mack is particularly an motion star; did you are feeling like that gave you an opportunity to spoof your iconic ‘24’ persona in a approach?
KS: I believe a bit of bit, yeah, and it was enjoyable. You already know, I believe it was enjoyable. It’s totally humorous that folks that form of do an motion film right here and there can typically begin to suppose that they are very expert, both as a fighter or with weapons and issues like that. The reality is you are not. You are taught simply sufficient to pretend it. So, I’ve all the time discovered that very humorous. So, to have the ability to play that in a personality for a movie was a whole lot of enjoyable.
MF: Are you able to discuss Bradley’s estranged relationship along with his daughter and this expertise makes him a greater father?
KS: Properly, once more, he was confronted with a actuality that he was, in reality, a nasty father. Then, he’s simply compelled to spend a while along with his daughter due to these sure circumstances and he falls in love together with her. My daughter was performed by Matilda Firth, who’s a rare, gifted younger actor. Within the context of our film, she was the grownup within the relationship. That was a whole lot of enjoyable and he or she guided her father again to being a greater human being. I discover {that a} very touching facet of the movie.
Kiefer Sutherland stars in ‘Tinsel City’. Picture: Brainstorm Media.
MF: How acquainted have been you with the UK’s vacation custom of pantomime, known as Panto? Did you do any analysis into the custom?
KS: I did, completely. I definitely was not as acquainted earlier than the movie I’m now. I had by no means actually seen a reside pantomime, I’ve seen movie variations right here and there of a pantomime, however I’ve by no means been to at least one. So, once we received to Leeds, England, I used to be very excited as a result of they’d a pantomime on for that season, and sadly, it had closed two days earlier than, so I wasn’t in a position to see it. However clearly, I received quite a lot of assist from all people there, and it’s a vital custom within the UK and folks take it very critically. We discuss it within the context of the movie, however it financially helps a whole lot of these theaters by the remainder of the yr. So, I believe it is very cool and it was enjoyable to make a film about it.
MF: Are you able to discuss working with Insurgent Wilson, Alice Eve and legendary actor Sir Derek Jacobi, in addition to the remainder of the forged?
KS: Alice was implausible. I solely labored for her for just a few days, however her timing is extraordinary, and he or she’s so extremely humorous as my divorced spouse and James (Lance) did a fantastic job as nicely, who performed her new husband. Derek Jacobi is without doubt one of the nice actors of all time, Sir Derek Jacobi, and to have the ability to have a chance to work with him was implausible. Maria Friedman, Meera Syal, Danny Dyer, simply all these implausible actors, all simply had such lovely timing, and all form of added private moments to the film. So, it was an absolute thrill to work with all people.
(L to R) Kiefer Sutherland and Insurgent Wilson in ‘Tinsel City’. Picture: Brainstorm Media.
MF: What was it like collaborating with director Chris Foggin on this movie and what are you searching for from a director on set?
KS: For me, I am searching for somebody to be in cost. You already know, the director is the one one that’s going to journey from the pre-production stage of a film to the manufacturing stage and filming of the film, the post-production stage the place they’re modifying and finalizing the music and all of the particular results. In order that’s the individual that has the imaginative and prescient that is going to hold its approach by your entire movie. I am searching for somebody to steer that, and that is what the director is meant to do. You already know, having finished this for fairly a while, in the event you’re not working in the direction of a shared imaginative and prescient, you are going to find yourself on the reducing room flooring. So, Chris is somebody that I requested for steerage from, and on the finish of the day, particularly in the event you’re doing a comedy, you end a scene and look over and if he is laughing, we did one thing proper, and if he is not, we higher determine this out. So, he was a implausible director and I believe simply did a fantastic job with the movie.
MF: Earlier this yr, you talked about talking to the ‘24’ creators about some concepts to carry again the present indirectly and that there have been steps being taken to maneuver ahead. Are there any updates that you may give us on that?
KS: You’d should ask Howard Gordon how he was approached, however he did provide you with what I assumed was a extremely good concept. So, he wrote a bit, and I actually loved it. That is form of the place we’re at and we’ll see if it will get made. However, you recognize, at this stage, I assumed it was a extremely good concept, and that is the place we’re form of at.
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer in ’24’. Picture: twentieth Century Fox Tv.
MF: Is Jack Bauer nonetheless locked up in a Russian jail?
KS: Yeah. So, he is been there for some time, and he is not blissful about it.
MF: Lastly, I do know that you’re capturing the upcoming film ‘Father Joe’ proper now. What has it been like working with the legendary Al Pacino on that venture?
KS: Working with Al Pacino, you recognize, they all the time say, watch out about assembly your idols as a result of they could allow you to down. That is the alternative expertise that I had with Al Pacino. Al Pacino was every thing I might hoped he’d be. He is an awfully highly effective actor, however he is a sort human being. So, I simply actually loved it. I hope after I’m his age that I am nonetheless working as nicely.
‘Tinsel City’ opens in theaters and on VOD on November twenty first.
What’s the plot of ‘Tinsel City’?
A washed-up Hollywood motion hero (Kiefer Sutherland) is tricked into starring in a small English city’s chaotic Christmas pantomime, the place a straight-talking dance teacher and his estranged daughter simply may assist him rediscover the magic of the season.
Who’s within the forged of ‘Tinsel City’?
- Kiefer Sutherland as Bradley Mack
- Insurgent Wilson as Jill
- Matilda Firth as Emma
- Alice Eve
- Derek Jacobi
(L to R) Matilda Firth and Kiefer Sutherland star in ‘Tinsel City’. Picture: Brainstorm Media.