Riverdance alum Michael Flatley is being ridiculed online over the newly released trailer for his movie Blackbird.
Flatley himself stars in his debut film as Victor Blackley, an ex-MI6 operative who is drawn back into the job he left after retiring to the Caribbean to open a nightclub.
"I doubt that the Michael Flatley produced and directed movie written by Michael Flatley starring Michael Flatley which is made by Michael Flatley's production company and financed by Michael Flatley is going to return any money to Michael Flatley," one person predicted of the flick via Twitter.
Another chimed in: "Wee budget productions presents, Michael Flatley as a man trying to cling on desperately to any relevance."
A third didn't hold back with, "Well, this looks s***," while a fourth asked, "Is this for real or a parody?? #GenuineQuestion!!"
Despite the backlash, many defended the Irish-American's work. "Been waiting to see this for years," a user wrote. "Thought it might never see the light of day." A second added, "This looks amazing," while someone else said, "Years. I have waited years for this! International release? Streaming?? Please!"
Flatley, 63, picked up a Best Actor award for his role in Blackbird at its premiere at the Monaco Film Festival. There are also some talented actors starring alongside him including Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, The Expendables), Nicole Evans (Captain America), Ian Beattie (Game of Thrones) and Patrick Bergin (Sleeping With the Enemy).
Prior to its release, the Lord of the Dance frontman reflected on the movie.
"I'm thrilled to be releasing Blackbird in cinemas across Ireland. The pandemic has brought about many unprecedented production delays, but we're finally there," he said, per MSN. "As well as filming on location in Barbados and the U.K., we filmed many scenes in Ireland, so premiering here was always the first choice. There's nothing more breathtaking than the Irish landscape."
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Flatley hit back at speculation the production was a vanity project. He claimed to the outlet that he had received "several offers" from international distributors.
Nevertheless, THR reported that the film initially premiered back in September 2018 at London's Raindance Film Festival. Apparently, journalists were not allowed in and there weren't any reviews or reactions on social media. Even Flatley's Instagram account, which once posted updates on the project, went dark.
Blackbird is finally set to hit Irish theaters on September 2. There's no word yet on an international release.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Megan Cartwright is Newsweek's Deputy Entertainment Editor, based in London, U.K. Her focus is on U.S. pop culture and entertainment ... Read more
