The Regime Director Declares the Message of Kate Winslet’s HBO Show Is ‘Don’t Vote for Trump’
In HBO‘s The Regime, Kate Winslet stars as a foreign dictator who rules with an iron fist and crushes any sign of dissent — and her governing style might seem familiar to American voters, director Stephen Frears says.
When asked by The Hollywood Reporter what one of the show’s messages might be, Frears was blunt: “Don’t vote for Trump.” The celebrated director, who helmed three of the season’s six episodes, sees parallels between Winslet’s grandstanding, narcissistic chancellor Elena and the current Republican frontrunner, noting that “the reality of Trump [returning to the presidency] has increased and grown stronger” since the show began development.
Jessica Hobbs, who directed The Regime’s other three episodes, didn’t cite Trump by name, but she agrees that the HBO political dramedy aims to get viewers to consider the real-world implications of Elena’s outrageous antics: “If you can make something dangerously funny that makes people uncomfortable to laugh at it, maybe they’ll think about the ridiculousness of some of the real-world situations, and maybe that will make them think a little about what they could do.”
The Regime debuted on HBO in March, with Winslet leading a cast that includes Matthias Schoenaerts, Andrea Riseborough and Guillaume Gallienne, with guest appearances by Martha Plimpton and Hugh Grant. It currently airs Sundays at 9/8c, with the season finale set for April 7.
The Regime viewers: Are you seeing the Trump parallels, too? Hit the comments to share your thoughts.
Let’s see … a leader trying to live up to father, a leader who isn’t necessarily gifted with a high IQ, a leader who is paranoid, a leader who throws staff under the bus when something goes wrong, a leader who has no hesitation to adopt military rule…
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Parallels? Hard to miss!
Sounds like Biden, not Trump.
explain your thesis with words please?
A better show would have gotten that message across itself, not having the creator come out and tell us. To say this show is a disappointment is an understandment. It took nearly 4 full episodes to actually give me a chuckle, that being the final moment of episode 4. The rest of the series has been utterly boring. I figured it being only 6 episodes, it would at least be over quick but now I’m regretting investing in it.
More power to you for sticking through it. I fell asleep during the most recent episode and now I’m like, “naw, I’m done with it.” I LOVE Kate, but the show is just booooooring!
Like I needed a TV show to tell me not to vote for the narcissistic criminal. That said, Winslet is terrific in it. I guess I’m in the minority, but I like it.
I’d say the real message of “The Regime” is: You may think you’re Armando Iannucci, but you fall far, far short.
As if it would be any other message. It’s Hollywood’s favorite stick to best audiences over the head with.
LOL Seriously. The show reminds me more of Biden than Trump. If you have to tell people what the message is, then the writing stinks.
Nowhere in that article did it say that he “had to tell people what the message is”. The interviewer asked him a question and he answered it, but sure just make something up to fit your narrative. That’s what you people do.
TV line, I liked you better when you were just entertainment and not political. Just my personal opinion. I used to come here to get away from the division, but you seem to encourage it to by the things you report on. 😞
Always good to call out half your audience. I bet that all the investors in that show are happy this director is trying to get it canceled.
You at CBS: “You know, ‘Ghosts’ is alienating that half of the audience that doesn’t believe in the afterlife. You need to get rid of those spooks and just concentrate on the living people.”
Not even close to the same thing. Nice try, though.
If someone is continuing to support Trump, who, remember, tried to overthrow a democratic election, has been twice impeached, and is currently embroiled in numerous civil and criminal trials….yeah, they should be called out for supporting that.
Wow, you sure have a firm grasp of the news!
Good for Kate!!
These creators making their shows intentionally unwatchable, with their never-ending agenda’s.
Trump derangement syndrome on full display again!
These shows are part of the entertainment industry. Bottom line……..stay out of politics.
I had gleaned that that was the message. I am glad
That others do also. It will not change the trumpers- nothing can , but intelligent independents
May see and be swayed.
Can’t we just have a show to enjoy for entertainment sake? Why does politics have to come into play? The same with awards shows….ruined by political agendas.
Americans really have it too good if you all think Trump is in any way a “dictator” lmao.
He actually said he would be a dictator. Surely your obese orange Jesus wouldn’t lie to you, would he?
I’m not American, Trump is nothing to me. Hence the “you” in my comment. I am, in fact, a leftist who lives in a country with a leader who actually does all the things Trump is accused of doing (or wanting to do) with no evidence, so it’s a bit tiring to read these melodramatic statements about him all the time. Trust me, he’s nothing close to a dictator (and yes, politicians lie. That’s their main thing, really).
I may not care for Trump but I care for Winslet even less!