Who stars in Marvel’s Punisher special?

Reinaldo Marcus Green directs The Punisher Special Presentation, in addition to co-writing the screenplay with Jon Bernthal, who plays Frank Castle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Joining Bernthal in the upcoming Disney+ special are Jason R. Moore, Roe Rancell, and Mila Jaymes, with Chelsea Brea, Dominick Mancino, Evelyn O. Vaccaro, and Tom Johnson contributing to the cast.

The 60-minute runtime makes The Punisher Special Presentation Marvel’s longest entry in its Special Presentation series, with 2022’s Werewolf By Night clocking in at 53 minutes, while the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special runs for 42 minutes.

Bernthal on giving fans the Frank Castle they deserve

While Marvel’s Punisher special does not have an official title or plot details, Jon Bernthal teased the upcoming presentation by saying the project “will not be Punisher-lite.” He added that “Frank has no interest in breaking out [of] the darkness.”

“I care very deeply about Frank, I’m really grateful that I’m getting the opportunity to tell the story that I think the fans deserve,” Bernthal said. “We’re giving it our all, and we’re trying to tell a Frank Castle story that we’re going to turn our back on the audience — it’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to be light.”

Punisher: Brand New Day

If fans want more from Bernthal’s Frank Castle, they can catch the bullet-chewing badass in the new trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. In the trailer, Punisher and Spider-Man share a brief exchange while simultaneously chasing an armored car through the streets of New York City. Before Frank can cause too much damage, Spidey takes away his ride, then covers his filthy mouth with webbing before Frank can bump the wall-crawler’s movie up to an R-rating.

Are you excited about The Punisher Special Presentation? Are you curious to finally see a trailer for this project, and see what kind of writing chops Bernthal applies to a character that’s close to his heart? Let us know in the comments section below.

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SPOILER ALERT: This article contains spoilers for the Season 1 finale of The Madison.

After crashing through viewers’ emotions like a runaway 18-wheeler with faulty brakes, Taylor Sheridan‘s The Madison is already gearing up for its second season, and we’re more than ready to shed some tears at the events to come. Recently, while recapping the events of Season 1, The Madison stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell teased aspects of the show’s second season, which has yet to get a release date. While we wait for more details, it’s important to note that the second season is already in the can, so it’s only a matter of time before we’re back in Montana with the Clyburn family, sorting through the aftermath of their patriarch’s death.

Cast and creatives tease The Madison Season 2

“It’s after the initial stage of raw grief passes, and some time has gone by,” Pfeiffer says. “It’s the messy and profound rebuilding of everything that you knew after everything that you knew has fallen apart and what that looks like.”

Joining Pfeiffer in the conversation is Christina Alexandra Voros, who directed every episode of Season 1. She added to Pfeiffer’s statement by saying, “I think by the end of Season 1, there are a number of questions to be answered in terms of what the next steps will be for the Clyburn family,” she says. “Season 2 begins to delve into that.”

Meanwhile, Kurt Russell adds that things could get dangerous for the Clyburns as grief continues to take its toll, saying, “I think it’s fair to say that in Season 2 — and I believe Michelle will agree with me — what happens is the level of real danger goes up,” he says. “Things begin to become dangerous in realistic ways.”

Our thoughts on the first season

I had the pleasure of seeing The Madison early, and speaking with the cast about Sheridan’s latest (and best) drama. You can check out my interviews in the video posted above. Additionally, JoBlo’s Alex Maidy enjoyed the hell out of the show’s first season, writing in his 9/10 review:

“The Madison works as well as it does because it is nothing like Yellowstone. Taylor Sheridan has crafted a story about conflict that is devoid of criminal violence, but other forms of violence can wreak havoc on people. This series relies on the core themes of family, romance, and trauma, not for entertainment, but to showcase the depths of perseverance and resilience in the face of the hardest experiences people can go through. I had started to think that Taylor Sheridan was only capable of soap operas, crime thrillers, or a blend of the two, but The Madison has redeemed him in a way I did not expect. This is a touching drama that will hit you emotionally and gut-wrenchingly, but will also leave you wanting to take stock of your own family and relationships. The Madison is a journey that is worth investing in and leaves enough threads open to keep you wanting to come back for more when season two debuts.”

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“We are heartbroken to share the passing of our brother and son, Nicholas Brendon,” reads a statement from the family. “He passed in his sleep of natural causes. Most people know Nicky for his work as an actor and for the characters he brought to life over the years. In recent years Nicky has found his passion in painting and art. Nicky loved to share his enthusiastic talent with his family, friends and fans. He was passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create. Those who truly knew him understood that his art was one of the purest reflections of who he was. While it’s no secret that Nicholas had struggles in the past, he was on medications and treatment to manage his diagnosis and he was optimistic about the future at the time of his passing. Our family asks for privacy during this time as we grieve his loss and celebrate the life of a man who lived with intensity, imagination, and heart. Thank you to everyone who has shown love and support.“

Nicholas Brendon’s Career

In addition to Buffy, Brendon also made appearances on Married… with Children, Without a Trace, Private Practice, and Faking It. He also starred alongside Bradley Cooper in Kitchen Confidential, a short-lived series based on Anthony Bourdain’s bestselling book. He also played Kevin Lynch in Criminal Minds, a technical analyst and one of Penelope Garcia’s love interests.

But obviously, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was the big one, and Brendon still looked back fondly on how it all began.

“I couldn’t afford a cell phone so I got a ‘911’ page from my manager, and I was actually heading out to Santa Monica. So I pulled over [and used] a pay phone,” Brendon told The AV Club. “She was this lovely New York lady. She’s like, ‘Nicky, you got it.’ I’m crying and she’s crying. I had been acting for about three months up until that point, so that’s kind of where it started, and I had a talk with my twin brother, and he’s like, ‘No matter what happens, your life has just changed.’ I think we shot about seven or eight days later, so I had two days of just ‘oh my god’ elation, and it’s like like, shit, I have to actually do this. I sure hope I know how to act.“

In a series full of vampires, witches, slayers, and all manner of monsters, it said something that Brendon was able to make such a big impression as one of the few regular humans. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Brendon’s family and friends. He will be missed.

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What is Powers About?

The series is a mix of superhero drama, crime noir, and police procedural. It follows Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim, two homicide detectives assigned to investigate cases involving people with superhuman abilities, known as “powers.” Walker himself used to be a costumed superhero named Diamond, but became a police officer after he lost his abilities.

Both creators are involved in the Powers animated series, with Bendis writing the pilot and Oeming “participating in the visual development for the show.” Dark Horse Entertainment‘s Keith Goldberg and Chris Tongue are executive producing the series.

Powers was originally launched as an independent comic, but was soon published by Image Comics. It won the Eisner Award for Best New Series in 2001. It later moved to Icon Comics, a Marvel imprint designed for select “A-list” creators. The comic then moved to DC Comics as part of its Jinxworld imprint, and finally, to Dark Horse Comics.

Powers Has Previously Been Adapted

Powers has actually been adapted as a TV series before, but in live-action. Back in 2015, Powers premiered on the PlayStation Network (remember that?) with Sharlto Copley (District 9) and Susan Heyward (The Boys) starring as Walker and Pilgrim, respectively. The series received mixed reviews, but was still renewed for a second season before it was cancelled.

Torso is Also at Netflix

As revealed last year, Netflix is also in early development on another Bendis comic: Torso. The feature film adaptation of the graphic novel by Bendis and Marc Andreyko tells the true story of Eliot Ness investigating a mysterious serial killer known as the Cleveland Torso Murderer. There have been many attempts to bring this story to the big screen, but Netflix seems to be very confident, having acquired the rights in a seven-figure deal following an intense bidding war. Weapons writer/director Zach Cregger is one of the producers.

What do you think of Netflix turning Powers into an animated series?

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Tarantino & Stallone’s Gangster Series

According to the outlet, Tarantino will write and co-direct the series, with Stallone on board to co-direct. It doesn’t sound like Stallone will be appearing on screen, but the actor has had plenty of experience in the gangster world, from playing Frank Nitti in Capone, Angelo “Snaps” Provolone in Oscar, and, more recently, Dwight “The General” Manfredi in Tulsa King.

Not only will the series be set in the 1930s, but it will also be shot in black and white with cameras from the era. It will be a six-part series full of gangsters, showgirls, boxing, and music.

Tarantino & Stallone Have Almost Worked Together Before

Although Tarantino and Stallone haven’t actually worked together before, they have had a few close calls. Word is that he was up for the roles of Louis Gara in Jackie Brown (which ultimately went to Robert De Niro) and Stuntman Mike McKay in Death Proof (played by Kurt Russell).

But First… A Play?

Tarantino’s next project won’t be seen on screen, but on the stage. He’s been developing a play titled The Popinjay Cavalier. It’s being described as a “swashbuckling comedy” set in the 1830s and will be produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and Sony Pictures Entertainment. The press release calls it “a rambunctious comedy of deception and disguise inspired by the grand swashbuckling epics of stage and screen.“Tarantino has been planning to premiere it in London on the West End. The official premiere date is yet to be announced, but it is being developed for an early 2027 debut.

“Oh, the play is all written. It is absolutely the next thing I’m going to do,” he said last year. “It’s absolutely my next project. And we’ll start doing it. We’ll start the ball rolling on it in January. Because I just figure it’s like the first of the year.“

Assuming this gangster series from Quentin Tarantino and Sylvester Stallone turns out to be true (and actually moves forward), are you down?

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Carrie, the subject of author Stephen King’s first published novel and one of the greatest female icons in the horror genre, is coming back – and this time Mike Flanagan is the one taking her to prom. It was announced last October that Flanagan was working with King to adapt the story of Carrie into an eight-episode series to be released on Amazon’s Prime Video, and we’re expecting to see the show premiere sometime this October. Someone who didn’t have to wait so long to check it out was cast member Heather Graham (Suitable Flesh), who reports that she has already watched the first three episodes and the show is great!

Story

Published in 1974, King’s novel Carrie served as the inspiration for the classic 1976 film directed by Brian De Palma. The concept then sat dormant for a couple of decades, until the sequel The Rage: Carrie 2 came along in 1999. That was quickly followed by a made-for-TV Carrie remake in 2002, and then Carrie got a big screen remake in 2013. The character was played by Sissy Spacek in ’76, Angela Bettis in ’02, and Chloe Grace Moretz in ’13. Back in 2019, it was rumored that a limited series adaptation was in development at FX, but that project (if it existed) didn’t go anywhere.

King’s novel has the following description: Unpopular at school and subjected to her mother’s religious fanaticism at home, Carrie White does not have it easy. But while she may be picked on by her classmates, she has a gift she’s kept secret since she was a little girl: she can move things with her mind. Doors lock. Candles fall. Her ability has been both a power and a problem. And when she finds herself the recipient of a sudden act of kindness, Carrie feels like she’s finally been given a chance to be normal. She hopes that the nightmare of her classmates’ vicious taunts is over . . . but an unexpected and cruel prank turns her gift into a weapon of horror so destructive that the town may never recover. 

Here’s the logline for Flanagan’s series: A bold and timely reimagining of the story of misfit high-schooler Carrie White, who has spent her life in seclusion with her domineering mother. After her father’s sudden and untimely death, Carrie finds herself contending with the alien landscape of public High School, a bullying scandal that shatters her community, and the emergence of mysterious telekinetic powers.

Cast

The series stars Summer H. Howell of Curse of Chucky and Cult of Chucky as Carrie, Siena Agudong (The 4:30 Movie) as Sue Snell, Samantha Sloyan (The Fall of the House of Usher) as Carrie’s mom, Margaret White; Amber Midthunder (Prey) as Miss Desjardin, Alison Thornton (Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce) as Chris Hargensen, Matthew Lillard (Scream) as Principal Grayle, Thalia Dudek (The Running Man) as Emaline, Josie Totah (The Buccaneers) as Tina, Arthur Conti (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) as Billy, and Joel Oulette (Sullivan’s Crossing) as Tommy.

Returning Flanagan collaborators Kate Siegel, Michael Trucco, Sackhoff, Rahul Kohli, Crystal Balint, and Danielle Klaudt are also in the mix, along with Tim Bagley (The Perfect Couple), Tahmoh Penikett (The Madness), Mapuana Makia (Doogie Kamealoha M.D.), newcomer Rowan Danielle, Naika Toussaint (Washington Black), Delainey Hayles (Interview with the Vampire), and Cassandra Naud (Influencer). Details on their characters have not been revealed.

As mentioned, Heather Graham is in the mix as well.

Flanagan is executive producing the series with Trevor Macy. Filming took place from June 16 to October 24.

Great Show

During an interview with Collider, Graham said, “I have seen the first three episodes, and they’re great. They bring in an aspect of social media bullying and guns in school, so they try to modernize it, and I do feel like he captures the essence of what makes Carrie great.“

She added that Flanagan is a kind person to work with, which is why so many people who work with him “obsessively love him.” At the end of the Carrie shoot, actors of all ages were crying because they had such a good experience working on a set that had a great energy, “a vibe of love.”

Are you looking forward to Carrie, and are you glad to see Heather Graham’s positive report on the first three episodes and the set environment? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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New cast members join Netflix’s Assassin’s Creed series

In addition to confirming the adaptation’s setting and time period, Netflix announced recurring roles for Sandra Guldberg-Kampp (Wildland, The Rain, Electric Child), Youssef Kerkour (A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), Mirren Mack (Hedda, The Nest, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple), and Louis McCartney (Stranger Things: The First Shadow). The quartet joins previously confirmed cast members Lola Petticrew, Toby Wallace, Zachary Hart, Laura Marcus, Tanzyn Crawford, Nabhann Rizwan, Claes Bang, Noomi Rapace, Ramzy Bedia, Sean Harris, and Corrado Invernizzi.

What’s the Assassin’s Creed series about?

Here’s the official logline for Netflix’s Assassin’s Creed series:

“Assassin’s Creed is a high-octane thriller centered on the secret war between two shadowy factions — one set on determining mankind’s future through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will. The series follows its characters across pivotal historical events as they battle to shape humanity’s destiny.”

The creative forces behind Assassin’s Creed celebrate the series

Earlier this week, the creative team expressed excitement for the series, saying,  “We’ve been fans of Assassin’s Creed since its release in 2007. Every day we work on this show, we come away excited and humbled by the possibilities that Assassin’s Creed opens to us,” David Wiener and Roberto Patino say in a joint statement. “Beneath the scope, the spectacle, the parkour, and the thrills is a baseline for the most essential kind of human story — about people searching for purpose, struggling with questions of identity and destiny and faith. It is about power and violence and sex and greed and vengeance.

“But more than anything, this is a show about the value of human connection, across cultures, across time,” they continue. “And it’s about what we stand to lose as a species, when those connections break. We’ve got an amazing team behind us with the folks at Ubisoft and our champions at Netflix, and we’re committed to creating something undeniable for fans all over the planet.”

“We are so excited to work alongside Roberto, David, and our Netflix partners to bring this beloved franchise to series,” says Boykin, executive producer and head of content at Ubisoft Film & Television. “We look forward to delivering an experience that speaks to the heart of what fans love about Assassin’s Creed, while introducing its unforgettable worlds and timeless themes to new audiences worldwide.”

Am I out of touch with Assassin’s Creed?

I’m confused. I’ve played a lot of Assassin’s Creed over the years, but I don’t remember any romance or sex in the story or gameplay. Then again, the last game in the franchise that I explored entirely is Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate. I played for a couple of hours of Valhallah, though not long enough to get busy with the locals. Do I need to go back? Probably not.

I am looking forward to Assassin’s Creed: Hexe, though.

What do you think about Assassin’s Creed taking place in Rome? Is it the most obvious locale ever, or does the setting excite you? Let us know in the comments section below.

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What is The God of the Woods About?

The God of the Woods is a multigenerational drama series set in the Adirondacks. It explores the Van Laar family’s dark secrets, class tensions, and the mysterious disappearance of 13-year-old Barbara Van Laar from her family’s summer camp — in the wake of an earlier family tragedy that may be related. As the past and present collide, the Van Laars’ wealth and influence unravel, revealing the damaging consequences of privilege and the abuse of power.

Maya Hawke will be playing a character named Judy Luptack. What’s on Netflix notes that “on the website MyCast, where fans have been submitting their favorite actors they would love to see cast in the series, Hawke was the favorite to play TJ Hewitt.” Well, she is in the cast of the show now, but she’s playing a different character than the fans were envisioning.

In addition to Moore and Hannah, Neal H. Moritz and Pavun Shetty will executive produce The God of the Woods for Original Film.

According to Production Weekly, filming is scheduled to begin in June 2026 and will run for several months, wrapping up in December 2026.

Who Else Enjoys Moore’s Novels?

Adding to the novel’s appeal, Barack Obama selected The God of the Woods as one of his favorite novels of the year. Moreover, Swifties noticed Taylor Swift listening to the audiobook version of Moore’s novel in her “End of an Era ” docuseries, released on Disney+. Moore’s work is in high demand following the series adaptation of her novel Long Bright River, starring Amanda Seyfried, Nicholas Pinnock, Ashleigh Cummings, Callum Vinson, and more.

Are you a fan of Liz Moore and/or Maya Hawke, and are you glad to hear that Hawke has signed on to star in the Netflix adaptation of The God of the Woods? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Four Editions

Series synopsis: A love letter to the ’80s classic genre films that captivated a generation, Stranger Things is a thrilling drama set in the seemingly normal Midwestern town of Hawkins, Indiana. After a boy vanishes into thin air, his close-knit group of friends and family search for answers and are pulled into a high-stakes and deadly series of events. Beneath the surface of their ordinary town lurks an extraordinary supernatural mystery, along with top-secret government experiments and a dangerous gateway that connects our world to a powerful yet sinister realm. Friendships will be tested and lives will be altered as what they discover will change Hawkins and possibly the world – forever.

Netflix and Arrow Video are proud to present all five seasons of Stranger Things for the first time on home video. This definitive, dimension-splitting collection is packed with hours of bonus features giving you an all-access behind-the-scenes look at the making of every season.

There are four editions of the Complete Series release to choose from. There’s the 25-disc Blu-ray release, which goes for the price of $180.

25-DISC SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

• High-Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of all forty-two episodes across five seasons and twenty-five discs
• Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and stereo audio for all episodes plus additional Dolby Atmos for Seasons 4 & 5
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Optional audio description tracks
• Interviews with the cast and crew
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes
• Set tours
• Bloopers
• Image galleries
• Trailers
• Collectors’ booklet
• Reversible sleeves featuring original artwork by Kyle Lambert
• Double-sided poster featuring original artwork by Kyle Lambert

And there’s the Deluxe Edition Blu-ray release, which costs $215 and adds these items into the mix:

• Palace Arcade coin
• Self-adhesive Hellfire Club patch
• Exclusive Hellfire Club d20
• Twenty-five artcards from all five seasons
• Five double-sided posters featuring original artwork by Kyle Lambert
• Reversible sleeves featuring brand new artwork by Juan Ramos and original artwork by Kyle Lambert
• Double-sided fold-out Hawkins map
• 148-page perfect-bound artbook including original design sketches, concept art, storyboards and new writing from the Duffer Brothers, Shawn Levy, Andrew Stanton & more

Aside from different video tech specs (“4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision of all forty-two episodes across five seasons and twenty-five discs”), the 4K and Deluxe 4K editions have the same features. The prices: $200 and $230.

Will you be adding Blu-ray or 4K editions of Stranger Things: The Complete Series to your collection? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Synopsis

Based on a novel by Victor LaValle (you can pick up a copy of that one HERE), The Terror: Devil in Silver is written by Chris Cantwell (Halt and Catch Fire) and LaValle. The story centers on Pepper, a working-class moving man who, through a combination of bad luck and a bad temper, finds himself wrongfully committed to New Hyde Psychiatric Hospital – an institution filled with the people society would rather forget. There, he must contend with patients who work against him, doctors who harbor grim secrets, and perhaps even the very Devil himself. As Pepper navigates a hellscape where nothing is as it seems, he finds that the only path to freedom is to face down the entity which thrives on the suffering within New Hyde’s walls – but doing so may prove that the worst demons of all live inside him.

Dan Stevens (The Guest) stars as Pepper and serves as an executive producer on the season. Also in the cast are Judith Light (Before), CCH Pounder (Rustin), Aasif Mandvi (Evil), John Benjamin Hickey (The Big C), Stephen Root (Barry), Michael Aronov (The Americans), Marin Ireland (Sneaky Pete), Chinaza Uche (Silo), Hampton Fluker (Shades of Blue), b (WeCrashed), Hayward Leach (Tom Swift), and Philip Ettinger (First Reformed).

Producers

While previous seasons of The Terror had ten episode runs, this season will consist of six episodes. An AMC Studios Production, The Terror: Devil in Silver was filmed in New York and New Jersey.

In addition to Stevens, executive producers include Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, and Clayton Krueger of Scott Free Productions, Alexandra Milchan of Emjag Productions, Guymon Casady (Entertainment 360), and Brooke Kennedy, alongside series writers/showrunners Cantwell and LaValle, and Emmy nominee Karyn Kusama (Yellowjackets), who directed the first two episodes. 

Are you looking forward to watching The Terror: Devil in Silver when it premieres in May? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Logline

The Life Is Strange TV series will follow Max, a photography student, who discovers she can rewind time while saving the life of her childhood best friend, Chloe. As she struggles to understand this new skill, the pair investigate the mysterious disappearance of a fellow student, uncovering a dark side to their town that will ultimately force them to make an impossible life or death choice that will impact them forever.

Stella and Hopkins play Chloe and Max, respectively.

Charlie Covell will write, executive produce, and showrun the series, with Dmitri M. Johnson, Michael Lawrence Goldberg, and Timothy I. Stevenson executive producing via their Story Kitchen studio. Square Enix, Story Kitchen, LuckyChap, and Amazon MGM Studios produce the Life Is Strange TV series.

Kusama

In addition to the films mentioned above, Kusama has directed Æon Flux, a segment of the horror anthology XX, Destroyer, and episodes of the TV shows Yellowjackets, Dead Ringers, The Consultant, The Mysterious Benedict Society, In Treatment, The Outsider, Halt and Catch Fire, Billions, The Man in the High Castle, Masters of Sex, Casual, Chicago Fire, and The L Word.

I have to admit, I know absolutely nothing about Life Is Strange beyond what my fellow JoBlo writers Tyler Nichols and Steve Seigh have said about it.

Tyler said, “The Life Is Strange video game series is a peculiar one. After having a hit first game, it’s really struggled to match that same quality with followups: Before the Storm, The Awesome Adventure of Captain Spirit, Life is Strange 2, True Colors, and Double Exposure all being rather middle of the road. They’ve just been unable to recapture the spirit of the first game. Which is really too bad, as the original is one of my favorite games of all time and a very unique experience. One that I’m not entirely sure would translate to other forms of media.”

Steve said, “Words cannot describe how much I love the Life Is Strange video game series. While the games vary in quality, the original game was something of a revelation for choose-your-own-adventure-style gameplay. Some players roll their eyes at the game’s cheesy one-liners and teen angst, but I revel in it.“

I’m not familiar with the source material, but I am a fan of Karyn Kusama’s work (I’ll overlook Æon Flux because I love Jennifer’s Body), so Life Is Strange has caught my attention by hiring her to direct the first two episodes.

Are you a fan of Life Is Strange? What do you think of Karyn Kusama signing on to direct the first two episodes? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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According to People, Madonna will be returning to the acting world soon for season 2 of Seth Rogen’s series about the movie industry — The Studio. While the iconic pop star has dabbled in acting on occasion, this will mark her first acting role in over 20 years. Madonna’s last venture into live-action acting included cameos in the sitcom Will & Grace and the final Pierce Brosnan James Bond film, Die Another Day.

Madonna teased the announcement with an Instagram story that showed her holding a script on a gondola in Venice. The caption simply read, “The Italian Job,” and it was revealed that the picture was taken from the set of The Studio, which is currently in production in Italy. Her attachment to the show was also confirmed by Entertainment Tonight.

Season 2 renewal

Nearly a year ago, the acclaimed hit comedy was renewed for another season at Apple TV. “We’re thrilled to be making a second season of ‘The Studio.’ We’re looking forward to taking the lived experience of making season one and immediately putting it into season two, then repeating that loop for ten more seasons,” said creators and executive producers Rogen and Evan Goldberg. “And, we’re excited to keep all our industry friends and colleagues guessing as to when one of their personal stories will stream on Apple TV+.“

Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+, added, “Seth, Evan, the entire creative team and cast of ‘The Studio’ have knocked it out of the park with this brilliant show, and it has been incredible to watch the conversation grow with each new episode. We can’t wait to see where Matt Remick takes Continental Studios in season two, and hope for his sake that the ‘Kool-Aid’ movie crushes at the box office.“

Season 1 reception

The official description of The Studio reads: “As movies struggle to stay alive and relevant, Matt and his core team of infighting executives battle their insecurities as they wrangle narcissistic artists and craven corporate overlords in the ever-elusive pursuit of making great films. With their power suits masking their never-ending sense of panic, every party, set visit, casting decision, marketing meeting and award show presents them with an opportunity for glittering success or career-ending catastrophe. As someone who eats, sleeps and breathes movies, it’s the job Matt’s been pursuing his whole life, and it may very well destroy him.“

Our own Chris Bumbray caught The Studio when it premiered at SXSW. While he found it funny and appreciated the numerous cameos (which include the one and only Martin Scorsese), it does leave you feeling depressed about the state of Hollywood. “Rogen really does seem to be saying that Hollywood, as it once was, is over and that if good movies do get made anymore, it’s a bit of a miracle,” Bumbray wrote. “Given his place in the industry, he would know. God help us, loyal film fans.” You can check out the rest of his review right here.

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Buffy’s Screentime

Variety has obtained the shooting draft for Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, written by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman. In it, Buffy only appears at the very end and has only one line.

After spending most of the script in Sunnydale with the new hero Nova (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), the action jumps to New York City, where a “woman in a pantsuit” walks into an insurance building. She takes her place among a field of cubicles, with her nameplate reading: Anne Summers. A colleague scolds her, saying she wouldn’t want to be late for the meeting, to which Buffy responds, “Nope… wouldn’t want that.” As she leaves for the meeting, her work computer is suddenly flooded with claims from Sunnydale, California. And that’s the end.

A more recent rewrite of the pilot did feature more Buffy, but by then the damage was done, as Hulu executives didn’t think the project was salvageable. Did they make a mistake by passing on the project? Had the series moved forward, we obviously would have seen more of Buffy, but her lack of screentime in the reboot pilot did seem to be a sore point.

Gellar Doesn’t Want the Pilot to Leak

While some fans hope the pilot leaks online so they can see something from the project, Gellar hopes it doesn’t.

“I actually hope it doesn’t because then everyone’s going to have an opinion on this and that, and pilots are not finished,” Gellar told Evan Real on SiriusXM’s Page Six Radio (via THR). “It wasn’t done, right? It’s not like we did a season and finished it and then they shelved it. It’s not like when they made the Batgirl movie and didn’t [release] it. That movie was finished. You make a pilot — and I want to clarify this — we made a pilot [first instead of a full season] on purpose because there’s some new characters and you want to see how it goes. There are things you learn from it, and there are things you fix. Usually, [the first version of a] pilot doesn’t air … it’s a learning tool. The original Buffy pilot [had] nothing to do with the show. It was a different Willow. It was a very different show. But those are learning tools and that’s what a pilot is.“

Gellar also hopes fans avoid reading the script making the rounds for the same reason. “I’ve seen a version of the script out there,” she said. “It’s not actually correct. That stuff is really unfortunate and I ask fans if you see scripts — if you see it leaked — don’t watch it because you’re not getting our vision and all of that.“

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Lord of the Flies

The story follows a “group of English schoolboys who become desert island castaways. Left to their own devices, the children attempt to handle the terrifying situation with civility, until tribes form and a violent power struggle emerges.” It’s a novel most of us probably read in school, but Thorne believes this new version couldn’t be more timely.

“As a society, we’re having a conversation right now about boys,” he said. “We’re losing a generation of boys, and we’re losing it because of the hate they are ingesting — because it is an answer to their loneliness and isolation.“

Thorne added, “I hope it takes people back to the book, and I hope it allows people to lean into what the book really is, in my opinion — a difficult and dangerous account of who we are and what we’re capable of.“

The series stars David McKenna (Piggy), Winston Sawyers (Ralph), Lox Pratt (Jack), Ike Talbut (Simon), and Thomas Connor (Roger), but using such a young cast came with problems, especially as they weren’t allowed to shoot after 6:00 pm. But the team came up with a creative solution to make sure they got the night scenes they needed.

“We couldn’t shoot with the children after 6 o’clock, yet a lot of the action takes place after dark,” said director Marc Munden. “Mark Wolf (director of photography) and I developed this idea of shooting day for night with an infrared camera, which responds to the green foliage, changing it to pink and red. It has a hallucinatory feel, heightened with magical realism.“

Photos

Netflix also dropped a few new photos from the series, which you can check out below.

Lord of the Flies will premiere on Netflix on May 4.

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The Mystery Inc. actors arrive after an exhaustive search to lead the live-action reimagining of the classic Scooby-Doo series, which follows a group of teens and their beloved talking dog, Scooby-Doo, as they solve mysteries in Coolsville. The upcoming series serves as an origin story, sharing how Mystery Inc. came together for their first spooky case. Midnight Radio, Berlanti Productions, and Warner Bros. Television produce the show.

Netflix’s Scooby-Doo series is a Mystery Inc. origin story

Written by Midnight Radio’s Josh Appelbaum & Scott Rosenberg, Netflix’s live-action Scooby-Doo series has the following synopsis:

“During their final summer at camp, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder. Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma, and the strange, but ever so handsome new kid, Freddy, they set out to solve the case that is pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets.”

Hoping for the best

While I’m excited about Netflix’s live-action Scooby-Doo series, I hope it finds a broader audience than Applebaum and Rosenberg’s Cowboy Bebop, which deserved better than it got. The premise for Scooby-Doo is perfect for a series adaptation, provided the chemistry between the Mystery Incorporated characters is solid, and the effects team doesn’t go overboard with their version of Scooby. I could see a live-action Scooby-Doo series working as well as Tim Burton’s Wednesday, if all the pieces come together. My fingers are officially crossed. That said, what do you think about the cast? The only actor I’m remotely familiar with is Mckenna Grace, so I’m excited to see what Hagen, Forston, and Jenkins bring to the show. I’m also dying to see Netflix’s version of Scooby-Doo. If we end up with an “ugly Sonic” situation, it’s going to sour this project quickly.

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Behind the Scenes

The TV series project is a collaboration between Story Kitchen, Crystal Dynamics, and Amazon MGM. Chad Hodge (Single All the Way, The Playboy Club, Wayward Pines) and Jonathan Van Tulleken (Shōgun, Dope Thief) are executive producers. In addition to executive producing, Tulleken directs the production. Executive producers include Waller-Bridge and Jenny Robbins for Wells Street Productions; Dmitri M. Johnson, Mike Goldberg, and Timothy I. Stevenson for Story Kitchen; Michael Scheel; Hodge; and Legendary Television.

Cast

Turner is joined in the Tomb Raider cast by Martin Bobb-Semple as Zip, Sigourney Weaver as Evelyn Wallis, Jason Isaacs as Atlas DeMornay, Bill Paterson as Winston, Jack Bannon as Gerry, John Heffernan as David, Celia Imrie as Francine, and Paterson Joseph, Sasha Luss, Juliette Motamed, and August Wittgenstein in unspecified roles.

Waller-Bridge previously said, “Tomb Raider boasts a plethora of iconic characters. I am thrilled to have been able to bring some personal and fan favourites to the screen while also introducing a few new rascals of our own to the mix. This cast is beyond my wildest dreams.”

Are you looking forward to the Tomb Raider TV series? Take a look at the video of Sophie Turner (and her guns) on the set, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Damon Lindelof on Lanterns

During a 2024 appearance on the Lovett or Leave It podcast, Lindelof made a joke about the show’s title. “It’s called Lanterns, because we all agreed that the Green was stupid, so now it’s just Lanterns,” he said.

In response, comic creator Grant Morrison said, “Why does a writer attach himself to this kind of narrative if he thinks it’s fundamentally ‘stupid’? You don’t hand CSI scripts to patronising writers who condemn forensics experts and their haircuts as ‘stupid’, so why hire people who are ashamed and in denial about the comic book material they’ve been assigned to develop? Why don’t they turn down jobs they’re not suited for?… The only people who give a fuck about the Lanterns TV series are Green Lantern fans. Why alienate them at the start? That feels more like ‘stupid.’“

Lindelof took to Instagram to apologize.

I have upset Grant Morrison, which means I have now pissed off MOST of the brilliant British/Scottish comics writers that I grew up idolizing. To quote the bard (Otis Redding), this is nobody’s fault but mine.

I made a dumb joke on a comedy podcast. I’m not going to bob and weave about context, the joke was dumb, the fandom is not. I owe them an explanation and a genuine reflection of my actual feelings.

The very first time I appeared on a ComicCon panel was for the Lost Pilot, back in the summer of 2004. I wore my favorite T-shirt as I had long grown out of my favorite underoos, those being the uniform of Hal Jordan, Green Lantern of Sector 2814. For a quiet, uncoordinated kid, there was nothing cooler than a hero whose superpower was his imagination. And green is not stupid, it is my lifelong favorite color and I have a questionnaire that I filled out in third grade to prove it. Green is f***ing awesome.

More importantly, it would be a betrayal to everyone I worked for and alongside to say anything other than I was absolutely honored to be a part of the team that manifested the incredible construct that is Lanterns… because it was. I was sloppy and careless with my words, ironic considering I care so much about Hal, John and the entire Corps. I can and will do better to be worthy of the oath… until then, I’ll let the show speak for itself and I can’t wait for you all to hear what it has to say.

Different Time Periods

Lanterns follows Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. One way the show is similar to True Detective is that it will span different time periods.

“Our story takes place in a couple of different time periods and so the challenge was for the characters be consistent at their core,” said co-creator/showrunner Chris Mundy. “John’s sort of a different person in one of them than he is in another. And I do think the physicality and magnetism that Aaron brings to the role brought that all together. That theater training, that wanting to be in the minutia of the work and the craft, it really added to John’s character from all sides. It added dimension to the more physical side of the role, and to the more emotional, creative part of the role.“

We’ll be seeing more of Green Lantern as it was announced last week that Pierre would reprise his role in James Gunn’s upcoming Superman sequel, Man of Tomorrow.

Did Damon Lindelof actually need to address this?

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The Cast of The White Lotus Season 4… So Far

The cast of the new season is shaping up to be one of the show’s biggest so far, with Helena Bonham Carter (The Crown), Chris Messina (Birds of Prey), Sandra Bernhard (Severance), Steve Coogan (Alan Partridge), Caleb Jonte Edwards (Black Snow), Alexander Ludwig (Vikings), AJ Michalka (The Goldbergs), Ari Graynor (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story), Vincent Cassel (The Shrouds), and more.

There are very few details about the characters, but Deadline’s report states that Greenfield and Nanjiani’s roles are “two of the meatiest recurring parts” of the new season.

The New Season will Take Place in France

From Hawaii to Sicily to Thailand, each season of The White Lotus has transported viewers to a new destination. The latest season will bring the anthology series to France, and it was announced earlier this year that it will take place at the Château de La Messardière in Saint-Tropez on the Côte d’Azur, a 19th-century palace turned luxury hotel.

“For the fourth season, I want to get a little bit out of the crashing waves of rocks vernacular but there’s always more room for more murders at the White Lotus hotels,” teased creator Mike White last year.

We Loved the Last Season

Our own Alex Maidy loved the third season of The White Lotus, saying that it was “as good, if not better, than it has ever been.” He continued, “Not as laugh-out-loud funny as the first season, the new season of The White Lotus continues to mine the darkly dramatic side of secrets and lies that friends and family keep from one another for a masterful season of storytelling. If you loved the first and second seasons of The White Lotus, your jaw will drop when you watch this new season. I don’t know how Mike White continues to improve on an already brilliant series, but season three is the best yet, and I cannot wait to see how it ends.” You can check out the rest of Maidy’s review right here.

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One Piece Season 2 on Netflix’s Top 10

In its first four days of availability, One Piece season 2 has become the most-watched TV title of the week with 16.8 million views and 136.2 million hours viewed. Impressive numbers, but it’s a slight decrease from the first season, which debuted with 18.5 million views in 2023.

The first season saw a bump in viewership as well, enough to land it at the #7 spot with 3.6 million views. Both seasons have debuted at #1 in Japan, the only English-language series to do so.

The new season, titled One Piece: Into the Grand Line, follows the adventurous pirates Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), Zoro (Mackenyu), Nami (Emily Rudd), Usopp (Jacob Romero), and Sanji (Taz Skylar) journey into an unpredictable new part of the ocean where a host of new — and deadly — adversaries await them on their quest to find treasure.

We Loved One Piece

Our own Steve Seigh had a blast with the second season of the series. “The show never shies away from its anime roots, choosing to revel in One Piece‘s swashbuckling silliness, extreme sense of style, and powerful messages of optimism, adventure, and making your dreams come true,” he wrote. “Hollywood often portrays pirates as crude, covetous villains of the high seas, but One Piece flies a different Jolly Roger, one that stands for exploration of strange lands, forging of unbreakable bonds, and limitless possibilities in the face of the impossible and strange. I can’t get enough of this series, and hope that Netflix continues to believe in it as much as Luffy does in his dream of one day becoming the King of the Pirates.” You can check out the rest of his review right here.

We’ve got more One Piece on the way, as Netflix has already renewed the series for a third season, which actually started production last year.

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What is Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 About?

The official synopsis for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 reads:

“In Season 2, Mayor Wilson Fisk crushes New York City underfoot as he hunts down public enemy number one, the Hell’s Kitchen vigilante known as Daredevil. But beneath the horned mask, Matt Murdock will try to fight back from the shadows to tear down the Kingpin’s corrupt empire and redeem his home. Resist. Rebel. Rebuild.”

Here’s what people are saying about Daredevil: Born Again Season 2

As Marvel Studios continues to pull characters from Daredevil’s Netflix era, Krysten Ritter returns as Jessica Jones for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2. From what we’ve seen, she’s ready to bust some skulls in the name of justice and help Matt become an even bigger thorn in Kingpin’s side as he continues to rule New York with an iron fist.

Charlie Cox on Jessica Jones’ Return

Previously, Charlie Cox spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the character dynamic between Jones and Murdock, saying, “Just by the nature of who Jessica is and who Matt is, they both give as much as they get. I’m not sure we were aware of it when we were shooting it. So we’ve been really waiting for this opportunity for so long now to put these two on screen together and have more fun with them.”

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 continues Marvel’s commitment to offering fans mature content while waiting for Spider-Man: Brand New Day to release in theaters on July 31, 2026. Born Again does not shy away from violence, harsh language, gritty drama, and interpretations of characters that go against the grain while remaining true to the source material. It’s been too long since Daredevil and Jessica Jones got a prime opportunity to break some bones, so anticipation for their reunion is creating quite the buzz among Marvel fans.

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The Cast of The Last of Us Season 3

In addition to Patrick Wilson and Jason Ritter, The Last of Us season 3 has also bumped Ariela Barer (Runaways), Tati Gabrielle (Mortal Kombat II), and Spencer Lord (Heartland) up to series regulars.

Wilson will play Jerry, the father of Abby, while Ritter will play Hanley, a WLF soldier. Ritter has actually appeared on the series before, but he wasn’t recognizable. He played a clicker in the first season, appearing alongside his wife, Melanie Lynskey.

Barer, Gabrielle, and Lord will continue as Mel, Nora, and Owen.

Other returning cast members include Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones), Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart), Isabela Merced (Superman), Gabriel Luna (Terminator: Dark Fate), and Jeffrey Wright (No Time to Die). Clea DuVall (Carnivale) has also joined the cast as a seraphite, with Jorge Lendeborg Jr. (Spider-Man: Homecoming) taking over the role of Manny after Danny Ramirez departed.

Neil Druckmann is Out

The Last of Us video game creator Neil Druckmann also co-created the TV series with Craig Mazin. He wrote and directed several episodes across the first two seasons, but announced last year that he would step back for the third season.

“I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement in The Last of Us on HBO. With work completed on season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our exciting next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, along with my responsibilities as Studio Head and Head of Creative,” he said in a statement. “Co-creating the show has been a career highlight. It’s been an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin to executive produce, direct and write on the last two seasons. I’m deeply thankful of the thoughtful approach and dedication the talented cast and crew took to adapting The Last of Us Part I and their continued adaptation of The Last of Us Part II.”

The Last of Us Season 3 Will Shift Focus

The new season will shift the story’s focus toward Abby. “I can’t believe that [HBO] let us structure the series in this way,” Druckmaan said. “Meaning like we just ended season two, and season three is going to be starring — spoiler alert — Kaitlyn. I was sure that they wouldn’t let us do this when we started adapting this, but they’ve leaned into what makes, I believe, the story special. And allowed us not only the time but the creative freedom to be able to take these swings, and I think the audience really appreciates that.“

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About seven years ago,  it was announced that a reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was in development with Monica Owusu-Breen, co-creator of the TV show Midnight, Texas, writing, executive producing, and serving as showrunner. It was said that the new show would be “contemporary, building on the mythology of the original.” That project never made it into production – and last year, it was revealed that we were going to be getting a Buffy the Vampire Slayer revival instead, with Sarah Michelle Gellar returning to the role of Buffy Summers and Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, Eternals) directing the first episode. The new show was to be called Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale and the pilot episode was filmed months ago. 

The project was set up at the Hulu streaming service… and a couple of days ago, fans were shocked to see the news that Hulu had decided to pass on it. Moving ahead with a Buffy revival seemed like a no-brainer. But while speaking to Variety‘s Ramin Setoodeh and CNN’s Elizabeth Wagmeister on the Oscars red carpet last night, Zhao said she was “not surprised” by Hulu’s decision.

Cast and Creative Team

Teenage actress Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Firestarter) was cast as a new slayer, an introverted high school student named Nova. Also in the pilot cast are Faly Rakotohavana (Unprisoned), Ava Jean (Law & Order: SVU), Sarah Bock (Severance), Daniel Di Tomasso (CSI: Vegas) and Jack Cutmore-Scott (Frasier), taking on the series regular roles of Hugo, a privileged, likable high-school student who is a geek; Larkin, another student described as a “chronic do-gooder”; Gracie, the ringleader for a group of church-going students; Abe, Nova’s single father who is a photojournalist; and Mr. Burke, a popular high school teacher.

Kingston Vernes (The Survivor) was cast as Nova’s crush, Carson, who was envisioned as being a major recurring character if the project went to series. He’s “a Junior Olympian and popular student at New Sunnydale Academy who is the object of Nova’s crush and starts noticing her after a life-changing event.” Chase Sui Wonders (I Know What You Did Last Summer 2025) made a guest appearance in the pilot. Merrin Dungey (The Lincoln Lawyer), Audrey Hsieh (Found), and Audrey Grace Marshall (The Flight Attendant) are also guest stars in the pilot, but could have had recurring roles if the show was ordered to series. Dungey’s character is Ms. LaDuca, the college counselor at New Sunnydale Academy. Hsieh and Marshall played Keiko and Jessica, high school students and members of the academy’s Evangelical Christian group.

Oscar-winning director Zhao, who is a self-professed lifelong Buffy fan, directed the pilot from a script by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman (Poker Face). The revival was coming our way from 20th Television and Searchlight TV, where Zhao has a first-look deal. Deadline recently said that the revival would be “starting a writers room soon, a sign that Hulu and the studios have high expectations for the project going to series. It is unclear yet whether other original Buffy cast members would return; that is considered likely.” But, apparently the pilot didn’t live up to Hulu’s high expectations.

This was being referred to as “the next chapter in the Buffyverse.” The pilot was executive produced by Gellar, Zhao, and the Zuckermans, as well as the original series’ executive producers Gail Berman of the Jackal Group and Fran Kuzui and Kaz Kuzui of Suite B. Also an executive producer the pilot was Dolly Parton, whose company Sandollar was behind the original show. In case you’re wondering, “Buffy creator Joss Whedon, who also wrote the 1992 movie the series was based on, had no involvement in the reboot. He has not worked in Hollywood in any official capacity since facing a slew of misconduct allegations in 2021.”

Not Surprised

After telling Variety and CNN that she was “not surprised” by Hulu’s decision, Zhao said, “I had an incredible, incredible time with Sarah [Michelle Gellar], with all the cast and crew doing this. And we, first and foremost, see ourselves as the guardians of the original show. Our priority for Sarah and for us has always been to be truthful to the show, to be truthful to our fans. So, things happen for a reason, and we keep our hearts open and we welcome the mystery. And what this might lead us to.“

Asked if she and Gellar would be shopping the project to other distributors, Zhao repeated, “Welcome the mystery.“

Are you hoping that Sarah Michelle Gellar and Chloé Zhao will find a new home for Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

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It was previously announced last year that Netflix will be adapting Ubisoft’s iconic Assassin’s Creed video game franchise for a new series on their streaming service. Emmy nominees Roberto Patino (DMZ, Westworld, Sons of Anarchy) and David Wiener (Halo, Homecoming, The Killing) are all on board to serve as creators, showrunners, and executive producers. In addition to Wiener and Patino, executive producers include Gerard Guillemot, Margaret Boykin, and Austin Dill for Ubisoft Film & Television, and Matt O’Toole.

Additional cast added

It was announced that the show’s cast will star Lola Petticrew, Toby Wallace, Zachary Hart, Laura Marcus and Tanzyn Crawford. Now, Netflix is revealing some additional actors that they’ve added to the show for recurring roles. Assassin’s Creed is now set to feature Noomi Rapace (Lamb, Prometheus), Ramzy Bedia (Of Money and Blood, Haunted Minds, The Party’s Over, La Tour Montparnasse, H), Sean Harris (Mission: Impossible, The Stranger), and Corrado Invernizzi (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Ford v Ferrari, Vincere 2009, Marco Bellocchio, Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints, Marco Polo, Doctor Who) in some currently unspecified roles.

The show’s official logline from Netflix reads,
“Assassin’s Creed is a high-octane thriller centered on the secret war between two shadowy factions — one set on determining mankind’s future through control and manipulation, while the other fights to preserve free will. The series follows its characters across pivotal historical events as they battle to shape humanity’s destiny.”

Creative Excitement

The creative team expressed their excitement on the project. “We’ve been fans of Assassin’s Creed since its release in 2007. Every day we work on this show, we come away excited and humbled by the possibilities that Assassin’s Creed opens to us,” Wiener and Patino say in a joint statement. “Beneath the scope, the spectacle, the parkour and the thrills is a baseline for the most essential kind of human story — about people searching for purpose, struggling with questions of identity and destiny and faith. It is about power and violence and sex and greed and vengeance.

“But more than anything, this is a show about the value of human connection, across cultures, across time,” they continue. “And it’s about what we stand to lose as a species, when those connections break. We’ve got an amazing team behind us with the folks at Ubisoft and our champions at Netflix, and we’re committed to creating something undeniable for fans all over the planet.”

“We are so excited to work alongside Roberto, David, and our Netflix partners to bring this beloved franchise to series,” says Boykin, executive producer and head of content at Ubisoft Film & Television. “We look forward to delivering an experience that speaks to the heart of what fans love about Assassin’s Creed, while introducing its unforgettable worlds and timeless themes to new audiences worldwide.”

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Interestingly, the pilot, helmed by Chloé Zhao, director of Hamnet and Nomadland, did not pass the sniff test at Hulu. Sources close to the matter say the pilot was “not perfect,” noting that Zhao – despite being a self-proclaimed life-long Buffy fan – might not be the best fit for the vampire-slaying drama. Sources say there were talks about reworking the pilot, but after much consideration, Hulu decided to pass on the project. However, all is not lost! Hulu remains excited about the Buffy IP and plans to regroup on how to approach new additions to the fan-favorite franchise.

UPDATE: The show, titled Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale, would have seen Buffy sharing the screen with a new teenage vampire slayer, played by Ryan Kiera Armstrong. Armstrong shared an image of her slayer character:

In early 2023, Gellar said she had no interest in ever playing Buffy again. She told SFX magazine, “I am very proud of the show that we created and it doesn’t need to be done. We wrapped that up. I am all for them continuing the story, because there’s the story of female empowerment. I love the way the show was left: ‘Every girl who has the power can have the power.’ It’s set up perfectly for someone else to have the power. But like I said, the metaphors of Buddy were the horrors of adolescence. I think I look young, but I am not an adolescent.”

But by the end of 2024, she had changed her mind. Appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show (via Deadline), she had this to say about resurrecting Buffy: “It’s funny, I always used to say no, because it’s in its bubble and it’s so perfect. But watching Sex and the City and seeing Dexter, and realizing there are ways to do it, definitely does get your mind thinking, ‘Well, maybe.'”

Welp, this is a bummer. I was interested in checking out Hulu’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot, especially with Chloé Zhao at the helm. I understand how Zhao might not have been the best choice to approach the beloved IP, but damn, I like her style a lot. Maybe the pilot will leak, and we’ll get to judge for ourselves. Who do you think should direct another attempt at rebooting the Buffyverse? Let us know in the comments section below.

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All the stars are here!

Fillion revealed plans for the Firefly animated series during his “Once We Were Spacemen” podcast panel alongside co-stars Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Jewel Staite, Morena Baccarin, Sean Maher, and Summer Glau. Before you ask, yes, all of the aforementioned stars are expected to reprise their roles. Oh, and don’t worry, even though Adam Baldwin did not attend the con, he’d be reprising his role as Jayne Cobb for the project.

Who are the creative forces behind the Firefly animated series?

The Firefly animated series hails from Fillion’s production studio Collision33 in conjunction with 20th Television Animation. Married writing-producing duo Marc Guggenheim (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Arrow) and Tara Butters (Agent Carter, Reaper) will showrun, with scripts already completed. Meanwhile, Joss Whedon, who created the original series, is not involved in the animated series reboot. According to Deadline, the “proposed series is set in the timeline between the original 2002 television run and its 2005 feature film continuation, Serenity, expanding the universe while preserving continuity with the established lore.”

“The dedication of Firefly fans has kept this 25-year-old show relevant. Clearly, the return of Firefly is something the fans want. More importantly, it’s something they deserve,” Fillion told Deadline.

Worth waiting for

The Firefly animated series announcement brings Fillion’s week-long viral social media campaign to an exciting conclusion with the promise of more space-faring adventures from Captain Malcolm ‘Mal’ Reynolds (Nathan Fillion), Zoë Washburne (Gina Torres), Hoban ‘Wash’ Washburne (Alan Tudyk), Inara Serra (Morena Baccarin), Jayne Cobb (Adam Baldwin), Kaylee Frye (Jewel Staite), Dr. Simon Tam (Sean Maher), and River Tam (Summer Glau).

It’s finally happening, Browncoats! How does it feel? There’s nothing quite like waking up with some vindication in your cup. I know so many people who will freak the f**k out over this news. I can’t wait to hear their reactions. Plus, we’ve got some sweet concept art to drool over, which feels like the cherry on top of a sweet, well-deserved sundae.

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Background

On Halloween of 2022, it was announced that original Friday the 13th screenwriter Victor Miller – fresh off winning the U.S. copyright to the 1980 film after a lawsuit that stretched on for years – was teaming up with his lawyer Marc Toberoff, franchise rights holder Rob Barsamian, A24, Peacock, and showrunner Bryan Fuller (whose credits include Hannibal and Pushing Daisies) to develop Crystal Lake.

Things were moving ahead at a good pace, filming was expected to begin in July 2024, but then the project hit a speed bump at the end of April 2024 with the firing of Fuller and his frequent collaborator Jim Danger Gray. Things got back on track in late August 2024 with the hiring of a new showrunner – and that person is Brad Caleb Kane, who also serves as co-showrunner and executive producer of It: Welcome to Derry, the It prequel series on HBO.

When Fuller was involved with Crystal Lake, he was planning for there to be two musical options to choose from when fans watched the show on Peacock: a classic score by Friday the 13th franchise composer Harry Manfredini and a modern score. It’s not clear if that’s still the plan, but Kane recently took to social media to reveal that he and Manfredini are “cookin’ up some fresh nightmare fuel for ya.”

Crystal Lake

In addition to showrunner, Kane will be credited as creator, writer, and executive producer of Crystal Lake. It remains to be seen if he’s using anything from the original Fuller scripts and outlines, or if he scrapped those and started over completely. When he was hired, he provided the following statement: “From the moment I watched Jason Voorhees squeeze a guy’s eyeball out of its socket (in glorious 3D!) at the tender age of 8 years old, I knew my creative path was someday destined to converge with The Man Behind The Mask. Nothing defined my childhood more than growing up in the golden age of the slasher flick, and nothing’s defined the genre more than Friday The 13th. I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to contribute a chapter to this iconic franchise, particularly with such fearless partners as Peacock and A24.“ Beyond It: Welcome to Derry, Kane’s TV credits include Fringe, Black Sails, Lodge 49, Moonhaven, Warrior, and Tokyo Vice.

According to Deadline, Crystal Lake‘s version of Pamela is believed to be a mother who had given up a singing career to raise a special needs child and takes a dark turn when she loses her son. The series is being executive produced by A24, Kane, Marc Toberoff, Victor Miller, Robert M. Barsamian, Robert P. Barsamian, Tyson Bidner, and Stuart Manashil. As Deadline notes, “The project will mark one of A24’s first major IP-driven efforts amid a recent move expand in a more commercial direction.”

Directors on the series include Michael Lennox (Derry Girls), who helms episodes 1 through 3; Celine Held and Logan George (Caddo Lake), directing episodes 4 through 6, and Quyen Tran (Sirens), directing episodes 7 and 8.

The cast of the show includes includes Linda Cardellini (No Good Deed) as Jason Voorhees’ vengeful mother Pamela Voorhees, Nick Cordileone (Warrior) as Ralph – better known as Crazy Ralph, William Catlett (Black Lightning) as a character named Levon Brooks, who may be Crystal Lake’s chief of police; Devin Kessler (Godfather of Harlem) as Briana Brooks, Cameron Scoggins (Shades of Blue) as Dorf, and Gwendolyn Sundstrom (I’m Beginning to See the Light) as Grace. 

Friday the 13th fans will recognize the name Dorf, as he was the motorcycle cop who made a visit to Camp Crystal Lake in the original film. Kane confirmed that Dorf is “one of many” legacy characters from the original film who will be showing up in the series. 

Also confirmed to be in the cast are Nancy Nagrant (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as Kay Christy, Victoria Russell (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) as Celeste, Natalie Shaw (Daredevil: Born Again) as Pinky, Austin Colby (Pretty Thing) as Shep, Joy Suprano (Best Foot Forward) as Rita, Danielle Kotch (Director’s Cut) as Claudette, and Phoenix Parnevik (Bel-Air) as Barry. There are more legacy characters in the mix here, as Barry and Claudette were the names of the first two victims in the original Friday the 13th. 

Callum Vinson (Chucky season 3) plays young Jason Voorhees, with Zachary Branch (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) reportedly appearing in one episode as an adult Jason Voorhees.

Production on Crystal Lake started in New Jersey last June and wrapped in October. It was was filming under the not-so-secret codename Mama’s Boy. Summer camp scenes were filmed in West Milford, New Jersey and lake scenes were filmed in Ringwood, New Jersey, with Blairstown, New Jersey standing in as downtown Crystal Lake, just like it did in the original movie. Some filming also took place in South Orange Village.

Crystal Lake will be streaming on Peacock in the United States. Sky and its streaming service Now will be bringing the series to the UK and Ireland. It will premiere sometime in 2026.

Now, here are those first images, including one that’s a recreation of a shot in the opening sequence of the original Friday the 13th:

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More than a year and a half has gone by since AMC announced that they had ordered a third season of Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire – and that with season 3, the show would be moving on to the events of the second novel in Rice’s Vampire Chronicles series, The Vampire Lestat. Now, we finally have a premiere date, as it has been announced that the first episode of The Vampire Lestat will arrive on AMC and AMC+ on June 7th. Along with that announcement comes the unveiling of the opening title sequence, which can be viewed in the embed above.

Cast and Synopsis

In this story, Lestat becomes the frontman in a rock band, something that carries over into the events of the third book, The Queen of the Damned. That’s why those books were mashed together for the 2002 film Queen of the Damned, where Lestat’s singing voice was provided by Jonathan Davis of Korn. Here’s the synopsis for Interview with the Vampire season 3 / The Vampire Lestat: Resentful of the perfunctory portrayal in the trashy bestseller Interview with the Vampire, the Vampire Lestat sets his story straight in a way only the Vampire Lestat can — by starting a band and going on tour. Gabrielle. Nicholas. Magnus. Marius. Those Who Must Be Kept. They join Louis, Armand, Molloy, Sam, Raglan, Fareed and others we can’t tell you about yet on a sexy pilgrimage across space, time and trauma. No Auto-Tuning. No Trigger Warnings. All Feels Amplified.

Sam Reid and Jacob Anderson reprise the roles of Lestat de Lioncourt and Louis de Pointe du Lac. They are joined in the cast by Jennifer Ehle (Lioness) as Gabriella, Christopher Heyerdahl (Under the Banner of Heaven) as Marius, Damien Atkins (Slings & Arrows) as Magnus, Ella Ballentine (Black Conflux) as Baby Jenks, and Jeanine Serralles (Apples Never Fall) as Christine Claire, with Assad Zaman returning as Armand.

New additions include Sheila Atim (The Woman King), Noah Reid (Schitt’s Creek), Ryan Kattner (Destroy All Neighbors), Seamus Patterson (Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities), and Sarah Swire (The Boys). Reid plays Larry, Kattner plays Salamander, Patterson is Alex, Swire is TC… and Atim is taking on the role of a major character: Akasha, Queen of the Damned.

Alan Taylor, who directed the Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark, executive produces and directed the first two episodes of Interview with the Vampire. Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul producer Mark Johnson is overseeing the building of AMC’s Vampire Chronicles franchise. Rolin Jones, co-creator and showrunner on the first season of the HBO series Perry Mason, is the creator, showrunner, and writer of the Interview with the Vampire series. Jones and Johnson executive produce the show alongside Taylor. Anne Rice’s son Christopher Rice is also on board as executive producer, and the late Rice receives an executive producer credit as well.

Will you be watching The Vampire Lestat when it premieres in June? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Last year, it was announced that Netflix is reviving A Different World — a spin-off of The Cosby Show that originally intended to follow Denise Huxtable’s journey through college, with Lisa Bonet getting a promotion to the lead role. Bonet would eventually leave the show and return to The Cosby Show, but the ensemble characters of A Different World would prove to be strong enough that Denise wasn’t totally essential anymore. Now, the Netflix incarnation will feature a new cast of characters and follow the daughter of Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert, who became the stars of the original series.

The Return of Jada

As with all revival series with a next-generation cast, the hype for fans always has been — who from the original show will come back? The big names of the show, Kadeem Hardison, Jasmine Guy, Cree Summer and Darryl M. Bell, are already tapped to return to campus. Deadline now reports that Jada Pinkett Smith, who was an addition later on in the former run, will also be reprising her role as Lena James.

Smith teased the news with a post on Instagram. She displayed an image of herself in front of her trailer with the simple caption, “She back,” then hashtagged A Different World.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapinkettsmith)

The New Class

Maleah Joi Moon (known for Hell’s Kitchen) will be starring as the next generation lead in the series as Deborah Wayne, the daughter of the original series’ characters Dwayne Wayne (played by Kadeem Hardison) and Whitney Gilbert (played by Jasmine Guy). The additional cast members who will be joining Moon to make up the new ensemble will include Alijah Kai (Everybody Hates Chris) as Rashida, Chibuikem Uche (One Of Us Is Lying) as Kojo, Cornell Young IV (Doing Life) as Shaquille, Jordan Aaron Hall (The Idea of You) as Amir, and newcomer Kennedi Reece as Hazel.

Details on the Revival

The official logline has revealed that this new incarnation “follows Deborah as she enters her freshman year at her parents’ HBCU alma mater and finds the shadow of her parents difficult to escape. She sets out to build her own legacy – while having the time of her life – alongside a whole new generation of Hillman’s best and brightest.”

Felicia Pride will be on board as a writer, executive producer, and the showrunner of the revival series. Debbie Allen, Mandy Summers, Tom Werner, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood are also on board as executive producers. Debbie Allen, who is no stranger to directing on the show, is also set to direct three of the season’s episodes, including the first.

Pride stated, “It is such an honor to be a part of bringing back this iconic show, one that I grew up on and which had a profound impact on my life. I am so proud of the work we’re doing to reimagine A Different World for beloved fans and new generations alike.” The Bythewoods have also stated, “A Different World changed everything for us. It was where we got our start as writers and where we found each other. This show has always been a part of our love story. To return to Hillman now and help reimagine this world for a new generation feels like a continuation of that legacy – one rooted in love, purpose, and possibility.”

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Marshals Had a Strong Debut

“Marshals delivered a breakout performance, capturing a massive audience across platforms and quickly establishing itself as one of TV’s most powerful new series,” CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach said in a statement. “The overwhelming viewer response speaks to the strength of the Yellowstone world, the bold character driven storytelling from the creative team and the dynamic cast performances led by Luke Grimes.“

The first episode premiered on March 1 with 9.52 million viewers. Once a week of streaming and delayed viewing was factored in, that number grew to 20.6 million. The second episode held on to much of that debut audience with 8.4 million viewers. Delayed viewing numbers for that episode aren’t yet available.

The series stars Luke Grimes, who reprises his role as Kayce Dutton from Yellowstone. The spinoff series finds him joining a team of federal marshals working in Montana. The rest of the cast includes Logan Marshall-Green, Arielle Kebbel, Ash Santos, and Tatanka Means, as well as a few familiar faces from Yellowstone, with Mo Brings Plenty, Brecken Merrill, and Gil Birmingham reprising their roles.

We Didn’t Love It

Unfortunately, our own Alex Maidy didn’t love the series. “Marshals prominently features the signature Yellowstone insignia in all marketing, with every episode showing how indebted the series setting is to Taylor Sheridan’s flagship series, but there is little here that adds to the legacy of the show that inspired it,” he wrote. “If anything, Marshals undoes the virtuous redemption Kayce Dutton achieved over the five seasons of Yellowstone and will leave dedicated fans scratching their heads over why. Marshals has the production values of a major project, but ranks nowhere close to any other series in the library of Sheridan-produced or created projects. Marshals will undoubtedly be a hit for CBS as audiences still flock to anything with the big Y logo emblazoned on it, but this show is a forgettable procedural that fits the brand of shows that CBS is known for, but does not capture what drew people to Yellowstone in the first place.” You can check out the rest of his review right here.

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The new spinoff series, titled Stewie, is getting a two-season order, with plans to launch the show on Fox during the 2027-28 season, streaming the next day on Hulu and internationally on Disney+. Fox’s pickup of Stewie is part of a larger animation slate, with shows like Family Guy, American Dad, Bob’s Burgers, and The Simpsons now running through 2029. According to Deadline, Fox and Hulu will share the cost of producing Stewie. Fox remains mum on how many episodes of Stewie fans can expect, but they hear it’s around 15 per season. Naturally, Seth MacFarlane will reprise the role of Stewie Griffin for the new series.

What’s the New Family Guy Spinoff About?

“In the offshoot, after getting the boot from his old preschool, Stewie is forced to enroll in a new one that’s not exactly top-of-the-line,” Deadline shares in its report. “It’s attended by a handful of kids he doesn’t know, and a 75-year-old class turtle with a half-cocked theory on just about every subject. Stewie’s miserable, the other kids are miserable, and even the turtle is miserable… until Stewie begins rolling out his trusty array of devices to take them anywhere in space and time, turning every boring day at school into an insane and surreal adventure.”

Don’t Worry, Brian Griffin is in the New Series

Hold up! Is this Stewie’s Magic School Bus in disguise? Has he taken Ms. Frizzle hostage? Sources say that’s not the case, but can we trust them? In addition to introducing new characters, Stewie features callbacks to Family Guy, with Stewie using the time machine platform he built in the mothership show to travel through time and space. Deadline also says that Brian Griffin, the Griffin family’s beloved martini-drinking dog, will make appearances in the new series.

You know what? I’m game. I fell away from Family Guy for a few years, but thanks to the power of social media, clips of the show prove it’s still worth tuning in for after 24 years on the air. Stewie is one of my favorite characters from the show, and taking him on more time-traveling misadventures sounds like a great way to spend a half-hour to me.

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