Sarah Paulson in ‘American Horror Story: Roanoke’ (Photo by Frank Ockenfels / FX Networks)
The cast of FX’s limited series Mrs. America has expanded to include Sarah Paulson (the American Horror Story anthology series), Rose Byrne (Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising), and James Marsden (Dead to Me). Uzo Aduba, Kayli Carter, Ari Graynor, Melanie Lynskey, Margo Martindale, John Slattery, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Tracey Ullman have also just signed on to the Mrs. America cast.
Oscar winner Cate Blanchett was previously announced to star in the nine-episode limited series from Emmy Award winner Davhvi Waller. Blanchett, Waller, Stacey Sher, and Coco Francini,
are executive producing.
Captain Marvel writer/directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck are directing the first two episodes and will also executive produce.
FX is expecting to launch the series in 2020.
The Plot:
“Mrs. America tells the story of the movement to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and the unexpected backlash led by a conservative woman named Phyllis Schlafly, played by Blanchett. Through the eyes of the women of that era – both Schlafly and second wave feminists Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, Bella Abzug and Jill Ruckelshaus – the series explores how one of the toughest battlegrounds in the culture wars of the 70s helped give rise to the Moral Majority and forever shifted our political landscape.”
Details on the New Cast and Characters:
UZO ADUBA as SHIRLEY CHISHOLM – Chisholm not only made history as the first African American Congresswoman, but also became the first African American candidate to run for President from a national political party when she launched her unprecedented 1972 campaign.
ROSE BYRNE as GLORIA STEINEM – Steinem was the most recognizable leader of the women’s movement, who co-founded Ms. Magazine and played a major part in the effort to pass the ERA.
KAYLI CARTER as “PAMELA” (Fictional) – “Pamela” is a young, impressionable housewife who is an early member of Phyllis’ anti-ERA movement.
ARI GRAYNOR as BRENDA FEIGEN-FASTEAU – A Harvard-educated lawyer, Feigen-Fasteau was a young feminist in the women’s movement who co-founded Ms. Magazine with Steinem and helped the feminist effort to pass the ERA.
MELANIE LYNSKEY as ROSEMARY THOMSON – Thomson was a homemaker in Schlafley’s inner circle who eagerly joined her fight against the ERA.
JAMES MARSDEN as PHIL CRANE – Crane was a conservative congressman from Phyllis’ home state of Illinois and one of her most powerful allies.
MARGO MARTINDALE as BELLA ABZUG – A leading figure in the feminist movement, Abzug was a three-term Congresswoman who spearheaded the effort to pass the ERA.
SARAH PAULSON as “ALICE” (Fictional) – “Alice” is Phyllis’ best friend who joins Phyllis’ efforts to block the ERA.
JOHN SLATTERY as FRED SCHLAFLY – Phyllis’ husband was a prominent lawyer, GOP donor and anti-communist.
JEANNE TRIPPLEHORN as ELEANOR SCHLAFLY – Eleanor is Fred’s unmarried sister and a close confidante of Phyllis. Eleanor is a devoted aunt to Phyllis’ six children.
TRACEY ULLMAN as BETTY FRIEDAN – Known as the mother of the women’s movement, Friedan wrote The Feminine Mystique and co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus. She was an active proponent of the ERA.
The CW’s Riverdale concludes its weirdest season to date, what with a teen-owned and run speakeasy, a cult that harvests organs, and Archie taking up a boxing career (don’t get me started on the whole Gargoyle King thing!), with season three episode 22. Airing on May 15, 2019, episode 22 was directed by Rachel Talalay from a script by Roberto Aguierra-Sacasa and Michael Grassi.
The cast of season three includes KJ Apa as Archie Andrews, Lili Reinhart as Betty Cooper, Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge, and Cole Sprouse as Jughead Jones. Madelaine Petsch is Cheryl Blossom, Marisol Nichols is Hermione Lodge, Mӓdchen Amick is Alice Cooper, and Luke Perry is Fred Andrews. The third season also stars Ashleigh Murray as Josie McCoy, Casey Cott as Kevin Keller, Mark Consuelos as Hiram Lodge, Skeet Ulrich as FP Jones, Charles Melton as Reggie Mantle, and Vanessa Morgan as Toni Topaz.
“The Chapter Fifty-Seven: Survive the Night” Plot – THE FINAL QUEST — After receiving mysterious invitations, Archie (Apa), Betty (Reinhart), Veronica (Mendes) and Jughead (Sprouse) band together to confront the evils of their past once and for all. Meanwhile, chaos ensues at The Farm after Edgar (guest star Chad Michael Murray) makes a chilling announcement.
Ari Aster, writer/director of 2018’s Hereditary, is back with another bizarre thriller, Midsommar. The trailer’s weird and twisted, centering around an invitation-only ceremony in a small Swedish village in which American visitors find themselves wishing they’d chosen to do a stay-at-home vacation.
Midsommar stars Florence Pugh (The Little Drummer Girl), Jack Reynor (On the Basis of Sex), William Jackson Harper (The Good Place), Vilhelm Blomgren, Archie Madekwe (Teen Spirit), Ellora Torchia (The Split), and Will Poulter (the Maze Runner films).
Aster’s behind the scenes team includes director of photography Pawel Pogorzelski, editor Lucian Johnston, production designer Henrik Svensson, and costume designer Andrea Flesch.
A24 is targeting a July 3, 2019 theatrical release.
The Plot:
“Dani (Pugh) and Christian (Reynor) are a young American couple with a relationship on the brink of falling apart. But after a family tragedy keeps them together, a grieving Dani invites herself to join Christian and his friends on a trip to a once-in-a-lifetime midsummer festival in a remote Swedish village. What begins as a carefree summer holiday in a land of eternal sunlight takes a sinister turn when the insular villagers invite their guests to partake in festivities that render the pastoral paradise increasingly unnerving and viscerally disturbing. From the visionary mind of Ari Aster comes a dread-soaked cinematic fairytale where a world of darkness unfolds in broad daylight.”
New chapters in the Fast and the Furious, Spider-Man, Toy Story, John Wick, X-Men, and The Secret Life of Pets franchises will hit theaters this summer. Disney’s bringing to life new versions of the classic animated hits Aladdin and The Lion King, and Warner Bros. is paying another visit to Derry – the home of the terrifying Pennywise the Clown – in It: Chapter Two.
The 2018 summer movie slate also includes other entries in the horror genre. Two of the creepiest dolls in films, Annabelle and Chucky, return to terrorize audiences. Brightburn mixes the superhero genre and horror, Godzilla battles gigantic creatures, and Bill Murray and Adam Driver battle the undead in The Dead Don’t Die.
Those well-dressed men and women in black keep the Earth safe from alien visitors in the much-anticipated Men in Black International, reuniting Thor: Ragnarok‘s Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. Spidey swings into theaters in the first MCU film post Avengers: Endgame. And Quentin Tarantino uses events and players surrounding the Sharon Tate murder for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Rock ‘n roll is well represented in the summer movie lineup. In May, the epic musical fantasy Rocketman inspired by Sir Elton John rolls into theaters. The Beatles music fills out the soundtrack of Yesterday, a drama that imagines a world in which the iconic band never existed. Bruce Springsteen’s hits inspire a young man to reach for his dreams in the August release, Blinded by the Light.
Here’s a look at the most anticipated 2019 summer movies, listed in release date order.
Taron Egerton as Elton John in ‘Rocketman’ from Paramount Pictures.
MAY 2019
Detective Pikachu (May 10) starring Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton, Suki Waterhouse, Omar Chaparro, Chris Geere, Ken Watanabe, Bill Nighy, and the voice of Ryan Reynolds
The Plot: Fans everywhere can now experience Pikachu on the big screen as never before, as Detective Pikachu, a Pokémon like no other. The film also showcases a wide array of beloved Pokémon characters, each with its own unique abilities and personality.
The story begins when ace detective Harry Goodman goes mysteriously missing, prompting his 21-year-old son Tim to find out what happened. Aiding in the investigation is Harry’s former Pokémon partner, Detective Pikachu: a hilariously wise-cracking, adorable super-sleuth who is a puzzlement even to himself. Finding that they are uniquely equipped to work together, as Tim is the only human who can talk with Pikachu, they join forces on a thrilling adventure to unravel the tangled mystery. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City—a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world—they encounter a diverse cast of Pokémon characters and uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (May 17) starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Lance Reddick, Mark Dacascos, Asia Kate Dillon, Saïd Taghmaoui, Jerome Flynn, Jason Mantzoukas, Tobias Segal, and Boban Marjanovic
The Plot: In this third installment of the adrenaline-fueled action franchise, super-assassin John Wick returns with a $14 million price tag on his head and an army of bounty-hunting killers on his trail. After killing a member of the shadowy international assassin’s guild, the High Table, John Wick is excommunicado, but the world’s most ruthless hit men and women await his every turn.
A Dog’s Journey (May 17) starring Dennis Quaid, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Henry Lau, Kathryn Prescott, and the voice of Josh Gad
The Plot: Some friendships transcend lifetimes. In A Dog’s Journey, the sequel to the heartwarming global hit A Dog’s Purpose, beloved dog Bailey finds his new destiny and forms an unbreakable bond that will lead him, and the people he loves, to places they never imagined.
Bailey is living the good life on the Michigan farm of his “boy,” Ethan (Quaid) and Ethan’s wife (Helgenberger). He even has a new playmate: Ethan and Hannah’s baby granddaughter, CJ. The problem is that CJ’s mom, Gloria (Gilpin), decides to take CJ away. As Bailey’s soul prepares to leave this life for a new one, he makes a promise to Ethan to find CJ and protect her at any cost.
Thus begins Bailey’s adventure through multiple lives filled with love, friendship and devotion as he, CJ (Prescott), and CJ’s best friend Trent (Lau) experience joy and heartbreak, music and laughter, and few really good belly rubs.
Aladdin (May 24) starring Will Smith, Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, Marwan Kenzari, Navid Negahban, Nasim Pedrad, Billy Magnussen, and Numan Acar
The Plot: A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, Aladdin is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future.
Brightburn (May 24) starring Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, Jackson A. Dunn, Matt Jones, and Meredith Hagner
The Plot: What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? With BrightBurn, the visionary filmmaker of Guardians of the Galaxy and Slither presents a startling, subversive take on a radical new genre: superhero horror.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (May 31) starring Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance, O’Shea Jackson Jr, Aisha Hinds, and Zhang Ziyi
The Plot: The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species—thought to be mere myths—rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.
Rocketman (May 31) starring Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard
The Plot:Rocketman is an epic musical fantasy about the incredible human story of Elton John’s breakthrough years. The film follows the fantastical journey of transformation from shy piano prodigy Reginald Dwight into international superstar Elton John. This inspirational story – set to Elton John’s most beloved songs and performed by star Taron Egerton – tells the universally relatable story of how a small-town boy became one of the most iconic figures in pop culture.
Sophie Turner stars as Jean Grey in ‘Dark Phoenix’ (Photo Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox)
JUNE 2019
Dark Phoenix (June 7) starring Sophie Turner, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Evan Peters, and Jessica Chastain
The Plot: This is the story of one of the X-Men’s most beloved characters, Jean Grey, as she evolves into the iconic Dark Phoenix. During a life-threatening rescue mission in space, Jean is hit by a cosmic force that transforms her into one of the most powerful mutants of all. Wrestling with this increasingly unstable power as well as her own personal demons, Jean spirals out of control, tearing the X-Men family apart and threatening to destroy the very fabric of our planet.
The film is the most intense and emotional X-Men movie ever made. It is the culmination of 20 years of X-Men movies, as the family of mutants that we’ve come to know and love must face their most devastating enemy yet — one of their own.
The Secret Life of Pets 2 (June 7) voiced by Patton Oswalt, Lake Bell, Hannibal Buress, Dana Carvey, Tiffany Haddish, Kevin Hart, Ellie Kemper, Bobby Moynihan, Jenny Slate, Eric Stonestreet, and Harrison Ford
The Plot: Terrier Max (Oswalt) is coping with some major life changes. His owner (Kemper) is now married and has a toddler, Liam. Max is so worried about protecting the boy that he develops a nervous tic. On a family trip to a farm, Max and mutt Duke (Stonestreet) encounter canine-intolerant cows, hostile foxes and a terrifying turkey, all of which only elevates Max’s anxiety. Luckily, Max gets some guidance from veteran farm dog Rooster (Ford), who pushes Max to ditch his neuroses, find his inner alpha, and give Liam a little more freedom.
Meanwhile, while her owner is away, plucky Pomeranian Gidget (Slate) tries to rescue Max’s favorite toy from a cat-packed apartment with a little help from her feline friend, Chloe (Bell), who has discovered the joys of catnip.
And crazy-but-cute bunny Snowball (Hart) gets delusions of grandeur that he’s an actual superhero after his owner Molly starts dressing him in superhero pajamas. But when Daisy (Haddish), a fearless Shih Tzu, shows up to ask for Snowball’s help on a dangerous mission, he’ll have to summon the courage to become the hero he’s only been pretending to be.
Can Max, Snowball, Gidget and the rest of the gang find the inner courage to face their biggest fears?
Late Night (June 7) starring Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, Max Casella, Hugh Dancy, John Lithgow, Denis O’Hare, Reid Scott, and Amy Ryan
The Plot: Katherine Newbury (Thompson) is a pioneer and legendary host on the late-night talk-show circuit. When she’s accused of being a “woman who hates women,” she puts affirmative action on the to-do list, and—presto!—Molly (Kaling) is hired as the one woman in Katherine’s all-male writers’ room. But Molly might be too little too late, as the formidable Katherine also faces the reality of low ratings and a network that wants to replace her.
Molly, wanting to prove she’s not simply a diversity hire who’s disrupting the comfort of the brotherhood, is determined to help Katherine by revitalizing her show and career—and possibly effect even bigger change at the same time.
Late Night takes on white privilege, entitlement, and a culture veering toward crassness and conservatism. Challenging the limitations placed on women in power, the film delivers a sophisticated comedy that champions a new order centering the strengths of women and diverse voices.
Men in Black International (June 14) starring Tessa Thompson, Chris Hemsworth, Rebecca Ferguson, Kumail Nanjiani, Rafe Spall, Laurent Bourgeois, Larry Bourgeois, Emma Thompson, and Liam Neeson
The Plot: The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization.
The Dead Don’t Die (June 14) starring Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Buscemi, Danny Glover, Caleb Landry Jones, Rosie Perez, Iggy Pop, Sara Driver, RZA, Selena Gomez, Carol Kane, Austin Butler, Luka Sabbat and Tom Waits
The Plot: In the sleepy small town of Centerville, something is not quite right. The moon hangs large and low in the sky, the hours of daylight are becoming unpredictable, and animals are beginning to exhibit unusual behaviors. No one quite knows why. News reports are scary and scientists are concerned. But no one foresees the strangest and most dangerous repercussion that will soon start plaguing Centerville: The Dead Don’t Die — they rise from their graves and savagely attack and feast on the living, and the citizens of the town must battle for their survival.
Shaft (June 14) starring Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher, Regina Hall, Alexandra Shipp, Matt Lauria, Titus Welliver, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, and Richard Roundtree
The Plot: JJ, aka John Shaft Jr. (Usher), may be a cyber security expert with a degree from MIT, but to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death, he needs an education only his dad can provide. Absent throughout JJ’s youth, the legendary locked-and-loaded John Shaft (Jackson) agrees to help his progeny navigate Harlem’s heroin-infested underbelly. And while JJ’s own FBI analyst’s badge may clash with his dad’s trademark leather duster, there’s no denying family. Besides, Shaft’s got an agenda of his own, and a score to settle that’s professional and personal.
Child’s Play (June 21) starring Aubrey Plaza, Gabriel Bateman, Brian Tyree Henry, and the voice of Mark Hamill as Chucky
The Plot: A contemporary re-imagining of the 1988 horror classic, Child’s Play follows Karen (Plaza), a single mother who gifts her son Andy (Bateman) a Buddi doll, unaware of its more sinister nature.
Toy Story 4 (June 21) voiced by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, Tony Hale, Keegan-Michael Key, Maddie McGraw, Christina Hendricks, Jordan Peele, Keanu Reeves, Ally Maki, Jay Hernandez, Lori Alan, Joan Cusack, and Bonnie Hunt
The Plot: Woody has always been confident about his place in the world, and that his priority is taking care of his kid, whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. So when Bonnie’s beloved new craft-project-turned-toy, Forky, declares himself as “trash” and not a toy, Woody takes it upon himself to show Forky why he should embrace being a toy. But when Bonnie takes the whole gang on her family’s road trip excursion, Woody ends up on an unexpected detour that includes a reunion with his long-lost friend Bo Peep.
After years of being on her own, Bo’s adventurous spirit and life on the road belie her delicate porcelain exterior. As Woody and Bo realize they’re worlds apart when it comes to life as a toy, they soon come to find that’s the least of their worries.
Annabelle Comes Home (June 26) starring McKenna Grace, Madison Iseman, Katie Sarife, Patrick Wilson, and Vera Farmiga
The Plot: Determined to keep Annabelle from wreaking more havoc, demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren bring the possessed doll to the locked artifacts room in their home, placing her “safely” behind sacred glass and enlisting a priest’s holy blessing. But an unholy night of horror awaits as Annabelle awakens the evil spirits in the room, who all set their sights on a new target—the Warrens’ ten-year-old daughter, Judy, and her friends.
Yesterday (June 28) starring Kate McKinnon, Himesh Patel, Lily James, and Ed Sheeran
The Plot: Yesterday, everyone knew The Beatles. Today, only Jack remembers their songs. He’s about to become a very big deal. From Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting, 28 Days Later) and Richard Curtis, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually and Notting Hill, comes a rock-n-roll comedy about music, dreams, friendship, and the long and winding road that leads to the love of your life.
Jack Malik (Patel) is a struggling singer-songwriter in a tiny English seaside town whose dreams of fame are rapidly fading, despite the fierce devotion and support of his childhood best friend, Ellie (James). Then, after a freak bus accident during a mysterious global blackout, Jack wakes up to discover that The Beatles have never existed … and he finds himself with a very complicated problem, indeed.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 2) starring Tom Holland,. Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jacob Batalon, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau,. JB Smoove, Martin Starr, and Jake Gyllenhaal
The Plot: Peter Parker returns in Spider-Man: Far From Home, the next chapter of the Spider-Man: Homecoming series! Our friendly neighborhood Super Hero decides to join his best friends Ned, MJ, and the rest of the gang on a European vacation. However, Peter’s plan to leave super heroics behind for a few weeks are quickly scrapped when he begrudgingly agrees to help Nick Fury uncover the mystery of several elemental creature attacks, creating havoc across the continent!
Crawl (July 12) starring Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper
The Plot: When a massive hurricane hits her Florida hometown, Haley (Scodelario) ignores evacuation orders to search for her missing father (Pepper). Finding him gravely injured in the crawl space of their family home, the two become trapped by quickly encroaching floodwaters. As time runs out to escape the strengthening storm, Haley and her father discover that the rising water level is the least of their fears.
21 Bridges (July 12) starring Chadwick Boseman, Sienna Miller, Stephan James, Keith David, Taylor Kitsch, and J.K. Simmons
The Plot:21 Bridges follows an embattled NYPD detective (Boseman), who is thrust into a citywide manhunt for a pair of cop killers after uncovering a massive and unexpected conspiracy. As the night unfolds, lines become blurred on who he is pursuing, and who is in pursuit of him. When the search intensifies, extreme measures are taken to prevent the killers from escaping Manhattan as the authorities close all 21 Bridges to prevent any entry or exit from the iconic island.
The Lion King (July 19) featuring the voices of Donald Glover, Beyoncé, James Earl Jones, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, JD McCrary, Shahadi Wright Joseph, John Kani, John Oliver, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Florence Kasumba, Eric André, and Keegan-Michael Key
The Plot: Disney’s The Lion King journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.
Staying true to the classic story, director Jon Favreau utilizes pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring the iconic characters to the big screen in a whole new way.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (July 26) starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Damon Herriman, Mike Moh, Al Pacino, Dakota Fanning, Damian Lewis, Emile Hirsch, Scoot McNairy, Bruce Dern, Clifton Collins Jr, Costa Ronin, Nicholas Hammond, Timothy Olyphant, Tim Roth, Keith Jefferson, and Michael Madsen
The Plot:Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age.
Poster for ‘Hobbs & Shaw’ starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham (Photo: Universal Pictures)
The Plot: Ever since hulking lawman Hobbs (Johnson), a loyal agent of America’s Diplomatic Security Service, and lawless outcast Shaw (Statham), a former British military elite operative, first faced off in 2015’s Furious 7, the duo have swapped smack talk and body blows as they’ve tried to take each other down.
But when cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist Brixton (Elba) gains control of an insidious bio-threat that could alter humanity forever – and bests a brilliant and fearless rogue MI6 agent (Kirby), who just happens to be Shaw’s sister – these two sworn enemies will have to partner up to bring down the only guy who might be badder than themselves.
Hobbs & Shaw blasts open a new door in the Fast universe as it hurtles action across the globe, from Los Angeles to London and from the toxic wasteland of Chernobyl to the lush beauty of Samoa.
The Art of Racing in the Rain (August 9) starring Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfried, Gary Cole, Kathy Baker, Ryan Keira Armstrong, Martin Donovan, and the voice of Kevin Costner
The Plot: Based on the bestselling novel by Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain is a heartfelt tale narrated by a witty and philosophical dog named Enzo.
Through his bond with his owner, Denny Swift, an aspiring Formula One race car driver, Enzo has gained tremendous insight into the human condition and understands that the techniques needed on the racetrack can also be used to successfully navigate the journey of life.
The film follows Denny and the loves of his life – his wife, Eve, their young daughter Zoe, and ultimately, his true best friend, Enzo.
Blinded by the Light (August 14) starring Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Nell Williams, Aaron Phagura, Hayley Atwell, and Dean-Charles Chapman
The Plot:Blinded by the Light is a joyful story of courage, love, hope, family and the unique ability of music to lift the human spirit. The film tells the story of Javed (Kalra), a British teen of Pakistani descent growing up in the town of Luton, England, in 1987. Amidst the racial and economic turmoil of the times, he writes poetry as a means to escape the intolerance of his hometown and the inflexibility of his traditional father.
But when a classmate introduces him to the music of Bruce Springsteen, Javed sees parallels to his working-class life in the powerful lyrics. As Javed discovers a cathartic outlet for his own pent-up dreams, he also begins to find the courage to express himself in his own unique voice.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette (August 16) starring Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, Kristen Wiig, Emma Nelson, James Urbaniak, Judy Greer, Troian Bellisario, Zoe Chao, and Laurence Fishburne
The Plot: Based on the runaway bestseller, Where’d You Go, Bernadette is an inspiring comedy about Bernadette Fox (Blanchett), a loving mom who becomes compelled to reconnect with her creative passions after years of sacrificing herself for her family. Bernadette’s leap of faith takes her on an epic adventure that jump-starts her life and leads to her triumphant rediscovery.
The cast of ‘Downton Abbey.’ (Photo Credit: Nick Briggs @ Carnival Films)
SEPTEMBER 2019
It: Chapter Two (September 6) starring James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, and Andy Bean
The Plot: Twenty-seven years later, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back.
The Goldfinch (September 13) starring Nicole Kidman, Ansel Elgort, Oakes Fegley, Aneurin Barnard, Finn Wolfhard, Sarah Paulson, Luke Wilson, and Jeffrey Wright
The Plot: Theodore “Theo” Decker was 13 years old when his mother was killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The tragedy changes the course of his life, sending him on a stirring odyssey of grief and guilt, reinvention and redemption, and even love. Through it all, he holds on to one tangible piece of hope from that terrible day…a painting of a tiny bird chained to its perch. The Goldfinch.
Downton Abbey (September 20) starring Laura Carmichael, Michelle Dockery, Robert James-Collier, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt, Matthew Goode, Harry Hadden-Paton, Allen Leech, Phyllis Logan, Elizabeth McGovern, Sophie McShera, Lesley Nicol, Penelope Wilton, and Maggie Smith
The Plot: The television series Downton Abbey followed the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who worked for them at the turn of the 20th century in an Edwardian English country house. Over its 6 seasons, the series garnered 3 Golden Globe Awards, 15 Primetime Emmy Awards, 69 Emmy nominations in total, making Downton Abbey the most nominated non-US television show in the history of the Emmys – even earning a Special BAFTA award and a Guinness World Record for the highest critically rated TV show along the way.
Maleficent threatens Queen Ingrith and King John in the new teaser trailer for the Maleficent sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. The visuals are stunning in Disney’s new minute and a half trailer that finds Oscar winner Angelina Jolie (Girl, Interrupted) reprising her role as one of Disney’s best known villains.
Elle Fanning also returns as Princess Aurora in the sequel to 2014’s fairy tale adventure based on characters from Sleeping Beauty. Fanning and Jolie are joined by Michelle Pfeiffer (Ant-Man and the Wasp) as Queen Ingrith, Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Sam Riley (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) as Diaval, Harris Dickinson (Trust) as Prince Phillip, Ed Skrein (Kill Your Friends), Imelda Staunton (the Harry Potter films) as Knotgrass, Juno Temple (Dirty John) as Thistlewit, and Lesley Manville (Harlots) as Flittle.
Joachim Rønning (Kon-Tiki, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) directs from a screenplay by Linda Woolverton, Micah Fitzerman-Blue, and Noah Harpster (story by Woolverton). Joe Roth, Angelina Jolie and Duncan Henderson produced, and Matt Smith, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Michael Vieira executive produced.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil opens in theaters on October 18, 2019.
The Plot, Courtesy of Disney:
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is a fantasy adventure that picks up several years after Maleficent, in which audiences learned of the events that hardened the heart of Disney’s most notorious villain and drove her to curse a baby Princess Aurora. The film continues to explore the complex relationship between the horned fairy and the soon to be Queen as they form new alliances and face new adversaries in their struggle to protect the moors and the magical creatures that reside within.”
Angelina Jolie is Maleficent and Elle Fanning is Aurora in Disney’s ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’Angelina Jolie is Maleficent in Disney’s ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’Elle Fanning is Aurora in Disney’s ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’Angelina Jolie is Maleficent in Disney’s ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’
Sherilynn Fenn continues her guest starring role as Karen Street, Jim Street’s mother, in the season two finale of CBS’s S.W.A.T.. Season two episode 23 titled “Kangaroo” is set to air on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT. Billy Gierhart directed from a script by Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and Michael Gemballa.
The “Kangaroo” guest cast includes Steve Louis Villegas, Christina Craddick, Patrick Hume, Luke Forbes, Charles Emmett, and Alistair Bayardo. Seri DeYoung, Nicki Micheaux, Michael Beach and Laura James. Episode 23 also features Jesus Ruiz, Sumalee Montano, Sade Devine, Amanda Rivas, Michelle Gardner, Dor Gvirtsman, Enisha Brewster, and Nigel Gibbs.
The cast of season two includes Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Stephanie Sigman as Jessica Cortez, Alex Russell as Jim Street, and Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay. Lina Esco stars as Christina “Chris” Alonso, Kenny Johnson is Dominique Luca, Peter Onorati is Jeff Mumford, David Lim is Victor Tan, and Patrick St. Esprit plays Commander Robert Hicks.
The “Kangaroo” Plot – The SWAT team goes in pursuit again of the militant group The Emancipators, when the criminals hold a live stream kangaroo court to publicly execute city politicians. Also, Hondo fights to lift Darryl’s spirits; Deacon feels unworthy as he prepares to receive one of the LAPD’s highest honors; and Street catches a break in the search for his missing parolee mother.
CBS is making fans wait two weeks between the penultimate episode of season two and the season two finale of SEAL Team. Season two episode 22 titled “Never Out of the Fight” will air on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT. The season finale was directed by Christopher Chulack from a script by John Glenn and Spencer Hudnut.
Episode 22’s guest cast includes Kaliayh Rhambo as Jameelah, Miguel Pérez as Dr. Sullivan, Peter Jessop as Commander Shaw, and Ammon Jacob Ford as Mikey Hayes. Michael McGrady is Harrington, C. Thomas Howell is Ash Spencer, Kristy Swanson is Julia, Atul Singh is Batra, Catherine Dent is Liddy Breen, Lynn Chen is Patty Watson, and Laura Gardner plays Doris Sawyer.
The SEAL Team cast is led by David Boreanaz as Jason Hayes. Max Thieriot is Clay Spenser, Neil Brown Jr is Ray Perry, and AJ Buckley is Sonny Quinn. Toni Trucks plays Lisa Davis, Jessica Paré is Mandy Ellis, and Judd Lormand is Lieutenant Commander Eric Blackburn. Tyler Grey plays Trent in a recurring guest star role.
“Never Out of the Fight” Plot – Bravo team’s future is on the line when Commander Shaw (Jessop) recommends they be split up, but Jason’s unit has one final mission to prove him wrong.
The SEAL Team Plot:
SEAL Team is a military drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high-stakes missions our country can ask of them. Jason Hayes is the respected, intense leader of the Tier One team whose home life has suffered as a result of his extensive warrior’s existence. His team includes his trusted confidant, Ray Perry, the longest-tenured operator with whom Jason shares an ingrained shorthand; Sonny Quinn, an exceptional, loyal soldier with a checkered past who still combats self-destructive tendencies; and Clay Spenser, a young, multilingual, second-generation SEAL with insatiable drive and dedication.
Vital to the team’s success are troop commander Lt. Cdr. Eric Blackburn, who serves as a leader and confidant both on and off the battlefield; CIA analyst Mandy Ellis, who has sacrificed everything in her drive to root out evil and take down terrorists; and Lisa Davis, a no-nonsense, take-charge logistics officer and unofficial den mother responsible for outfitting the team with the necessary gear for each mission. Deployed on clandestine missions worldwide at a moment’s notice, and knowing the toll it takes on them and their families, this tight-knit SEAL team displays unwavering patriotism and fearless dedication even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Netflix released the first official trailer for the dramatic series What/If starring Oscar winner Renée Zellweger (Best Actress in a Supporting Role in Cold Mountain). Showrunner Mike Kelley (Revenge, Swingtown) created the new Netflix thriller and executive produces with Robert Zemeckis, Melissa Loy, Alex Gartner, Charles Roven, and Jack Rapke.
In addition to Renee Zellweger, the cast of season one includes Jane Levy (Castle Rock, Suburgatory), Blake Jenner (American Animals, Glee), Samantha Ware (Glee), Keith Powers (Famous in Love), Daniella Pineda (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom), Juan Castano (Shades of Blue), John Clarence Stewart (Marvel’s Luke Cage), Dave Annable (Brothers & Sisters), and Louis Herthum (Westworld).
Season one’s 10 episodes will premiere on May 24, 2019.
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
Neo-noir social thriller What/If explores the ripple effects of what happens when acceptable people start doing unacceptable things. The first season of the Netflix original series focuses on a mysterious woman’s lucrative, but dubious offer to a cash-strapped pair of San Francisco newlyweds.
Renee Zellweger stars in ‘What/If’ (Photo by Erik Voake/Netflix)Blake Jenner and Jane Levy in ‘What/If’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)Blake Jenner, Jane Levy, Samantha Ware, and Keith Powers in ‘What/If’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
Fox has announced the lineup of new shows that will be joining their primetime schedule over the 2019-2020 season. Two of the dramas – Not Just Me and Prodigal Son – will premiere this fall while the remaining four will debut in 2020. Animated comedy newcomer Bless This Mess is the only new comedy to join Fox’s fall lineup.
The 9-1-1 spinoff 9-1-1: Lone Star, Deputy, Filthy Rich, and neXt will premiere in 2020 along with new comedies Outmatched, Duncanville, and The Great North.
“Today marks a new beginning for FOX Entertainment. So it is with a start-up mindset and, upon an incredible foundation of assets, that we deliver our first slate of new comedies, dramas and unscripted series,” said Charlie Collier, CEO, FOX Entertainment. “Alongside top creators and talent, and through innovative partnerships across the industry, we are redefining what it means to be an entertainment company, and what it means to be FOX, for 2019 and beyond.”
In addition to announcing new series, Fox confirmed the upcoming sixth season of Empire will be the series’ final season. Fox promises the show will wrap up with a season filled with “drama, shocking surprises and more jaw-dropping moments.”
The Resident will move to Tuesdays at 8pm, immediately before Empire, when it returns this fall for season three.
FOX FALL 2019 SCHEDULE
MONDAY
8:00-9:00 PM 9-1-1
9:00-10:00 PM PRODIGAL SON (new series)
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE RESIDENT
9:00-10:00 PM EMPIRE
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM THE MASKED SINGER
9:00-10:00 PM NOT JUST ME (new series)
THURSDAY
7:30-8:00 PM ET/ THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL PREGAME SHOW
4:30-5:00 PM PT
8:00 PM-CC ET/ NFL FOOTBALL
5:00 PM-CC PT
FRIDAY
8:00-10:00 PM WWE’S SMACKDOWN LIVE
SATURDAY
7:00-10:30 PM FOX SPORTS SATURDAY: FOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL
SUNDAY
7:00-7:30 PM NFL ON FOX
7:30-8:00 PM THE OT / FOX ENCORES
8:00-8:30 PM THE SIMPSONS
8:30-9:00 PM BLESS THE HARTS (new series)
9:00-9:30 PM BOB’S BURGERS
9:30-10:00 PM FAMILY GUY
New Fall Dramas:
NOT JUST ME – Executive producer Jason Katims and writer Annie Weisman bring you the story of an unusual family formed through extreme odds. Exploring such hot-button issues as identity, human connection and what it truly means to be a family, this unconventional dramedy taps directly into the zeitgeist, harnessing the emotional complications that new generations of IVF-bred children all face.
Only child JULIA BECHLEY (Brittany Snow) finds her life turned upside down when her father, LEON BECHLEY, reveals that, over the course of his prize-winning career as a pioneering fertility doctor, he used his own sperm to conceive upwards of a hundred children. Reeling from this explosive revelation, Julia discovers two new sisters – her former best friend, EDIE PALMER (Megalyn Echikunwoke), and an ex-Olympic athlete, ROXY DOYLE (Emily Osment).
As these three young women begin to embrace their new reality, Julia must figure out what life is like without Leon by her side; Edie comes to grips with her burgeoning sexuality, as her marriage falters; and Roxy faces adulthood out of the spotlight. Against all odds, the three women will attempt to form an untraditional bond as sisters, even as they must welcome a tidal wave of new siblings into their rapidly expanding family.
PRODIGAL SON – From Emmy Award-nominated executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter and writers Chris Fedak and Sam Sklaver, PRODIGAL SON is a fresh take on a crime franchise with a provocative and outrageous lead character and a darkly comedic tone. MALCOLM BRIGHT (Tom Payne) has a gift. He knows how killers think, how their minds work. Why? Back in the 1990s, his father was one of the best, a notorious serial killer called “The Surgeon.” That’s why Bright is the best criminal psychologist around; murder is the family business.
He will use his twisted genius to help the NYPD solve crimes and stop killers, all while dealing with a manipulative mother, annoyingly normal sister, a homicidal father still looking to bond with his prodigal son and his own constantly evolving neuroses. Meet the happy family. DR. MARTIN WHITLY (Michael Sheen) is intelligent, wealthy and charismatic, and also happens to be a predatory sociopath who killed at least 23 people.
Bright’s mother, JESSICA WHITLY (Bellamy Young), an elegant and WASPy New Yorker, wields sarcasm like a samurai sword and has an opinion on every aspect of Bright’s life. Perhaps Bright’s only ally is his sister, AINSLEY WHITLY (Halston Sage), a TV journalist who wishes her brother would “take a break from murder” and have a normal life.
Unfortunately for his sister, the only way Bright feels normal is by solving cases with the help of his longtime mentor, NYPD Detective GIL ARROYO (Lou Diamond Phillips). Arroyo’s one of the best detectives around, and he expects no less from his team – Detective DANI POWELL (Aurora Perrineau), a headstrong no-nonsense cop who quickly becomes impressed with Bright’s work; and Detective JT TARMEL (Frank Harts), a born-and-bred New Yorker who questions whether Bright is a psychopath himself. So much for normal.
New Fall Comedy:
BLESS THE HARTS – Created and executive-produced by Emmy Award winner Emily Spivey, BLESS THE HARTS is a new half-hour animated comedy that follows the Harts, a Southern family that is always broke, and forever struggling to make ends meet. They one day hope to achieve the American dream, but they’re already rich – in friends, family and laughter.
JENNY HART (Kristen Wiig) is a single mother supporting her family working as a waitress in the small town of Greenpoint, NC. While Jenny’s the head of her family, she’s often at odds with, or scheming with, her lottery scratcher-obsessed mother, BETTY (Maya Rudolph), and her witty, creative daughter, VIOLET (Jillian Bell). Jenny’s doting, eternal optimist boyfriend of 10 years, WAYNE EDWARDS (Ike Barinholtz), is the love of her life and a surrogate father to Violet. He’s a charming dreamer who may never hit the big time, but he’s not going to give up the fight. In the end, the Harts may not have much, but they may just have everything they need.
New Midseason Dramas:
9-1-1: LONE STAR – FOX’S #1 drama, 9-1-1, expands its reach to the city of Austin, TX, with new installment, 9-1-1: LONE STAR, starring Rob Lowe. 9-1-1: LONE STAR debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 19, following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 20.
From 9-1-1 co-creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Tim Minear, 9-1-1: LONE STAR follows a sophisticated New York cop (Lowe), who, along with his son, re-locates, and must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in his own life.
DEPUTY – From writer/executive producer Will Beall and director/executive producer David Ayer, DEPUTY blends the spirit of a classic Western with a modern-day attitude and emotionally driven, visceral storytelling. Featuring an ensemble of ambitious and complicated human beings who won’t rest until justice is served, DEPUTY brings a gritty authenticity to the modern cop drama.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is one of the largest police forces in the world, but when the elected Sheriff dies, an arcane rule in the county charter, forged back in the Wild West, suddenly thrusts the most unlikely man into the job. That man is BILL HOLLISTER (Stephen Dorff). A fifth-generation lawman, Bill is only interested in justice; his soul wears a white hat. The bad guys don’t stand a chance, but neither do the politicos in the Hall of Justice.
Under Bill’s command is a county-wide crew of LA’s finest, including Deputy CADE WARD (Brian Van Holt), a former Marine stationed in Afghanistan, eight years sober and one of Bill’s few confidantes; Deputy RACHEL DELGADO (Siena Goines), Walker’s partner, a meticulous officer who is knee-deep in a nasty divorce; Deputy BREANNA BISHOP (Bex Taylor-Klaus), the whip-smart, sarcastic driver in charge of Bill’s security detail; and Deputy JOSEPH BLAIR (Shane Paul McGhie).
The dangers associated with the job often lead the police to LA County General Hospital, where Bill buts heads with Dr. PAULA REYES (Yara Martinez), the hospital’s chief trauma surgeon – and his wife. Given a job he never wanted, in an unfamiliar sea of politics, Bill quickly learns that doing what is expected and doing what is right are two different things, and that his innate, dogged pursuit of justice is the only skill the job truly requires.
FILTHY RICH – From writer/director Tate Taylor comes FILTHY RICH, a southern Gothic family drama in which wealth, power and religion intersect – more correctly, collide – with outrageously soapy results. Meet the Monreauxes, a mega-rich Southern family famed for creating a wildly successful Christian television network. On the cusp of launching a digital retail arm of the company, the family’s patriarch, EUGENE (Gerald McRaney), dies in a plane crash (or so we think), leaving MARGARET (Kim Cattrall), a now-“Oprah” to the religious and Southern communities, to take charge of the family business.
Not surprisingly, Eugene’s apparent death greatly impacts the Monreaux children: ERIC (Corey Cott), the couple’s ambitious son, who assumes he will now run the show; and daughter ROSE (Aubrey Dollar), a budding fashion designer, who constantly struggles to evade the vast shadow cast by her mother. If that wasn’t enough, the Monreauxes are stunned to learn that Eugene fathered three illegitimate children, all of whom are written into his will.
Now, Margaret must use her business savvy and Southern charm to control her newly legitimized heirs, whose very existence threatens the Monreaux family name and fortune: GINGER (Melia Kreiling), the tough-as-nails daughter of a Vegas cocktail waitress, whose life was virtually destroyed by Eugene’s rejection; ANTONIO (Benjamin Levy Aguilar), a single dad and boxer from Queens, NY; and JASON (Mark L. Young), another scion, who is not what he seems to be.
With monumental twists and turns, not to mention lies, deceit and shade from every direction, FILTHY RICH presents a world in which everyone has an ulterior motive – and no one is going down without a fight. The series is based on the New Zealand format created by Filthy Productions Limited.
neXt – From creator and executive producer Manny Coto and executive producers and directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra, neXt is a propulsive, fact-based thriller about the emergence of a deadly, rogue artificial intelligence, a series that asks us to look closely not only at our relationship to technology, but to one another.
Silicon Valley pioneer PAUL LEBLANC (John Slattery) built a fortune and legacy on the world-changing innovations he dreamed up, while ignoring and alienating the people around him, including his own daughter, ABBY (Elizabeth Cappucino), and his short-sighted younger brother, TED (Jason Butler Harner), who now runs Paul’s company. After discovering that one of his own creations – a powerful A.I. called neXt – might spell doom for humankind, Paul tried to shutter the project, only to be kicked out of the company by his own brother, leaving him with nothing but mounting dread about the fate of the world.
When a series of unsettling tech mishaps points to a potential worldwide crisis, LeBlanc joins forces with Special Agent SHEA SALAZAR (Fernanda Andrade). Having escaped crime, poverty and a deadly criminal father to remake herself as a force for good, Salazar’s strict moral code and sense of duty have earned her the respect of her team – a talented but contentious group held together by her faith in their ability to defy expectations and transcend their differences, including GINA (Eve Harlow), a high-strung cybercrime agent; BEN (Aaron Moten), a straight-laced, buttoned-up hard worker, who is boring to the point of being interesting; and CM (Michael Mosley), an ex-con hacker with a genius IQ.
But the demands of Shea’s challenging job have taken their toll on her home life, where Salazar’s young son, OWEN (Evan Whitten), has been raised primarily by his father, TY (Gerardo Celasco), a recovering alcoholic. Now, LeBlanc and Salazar are the only ones standing in the way of a potential global catastrophe, fighting an emergent superintelligence that, instead of launching missiles, will deploy the immense knowledge it has gleaned from the data all around us to recruit allies, turn people against each other and eliminate obstacles to its own survival and growth.
Marrying pulse-pounding action with a layered examination of how technology is invading our lives and transforming us in ways we don’t yet understand, neXt presents us with a villain unlike anything we’ve ever seen – one whose greatest weapon against us is ourselves.
New Midseason Comedies:
DUNCANVILLE – From Golden Globe winner Amy Poehler and Emmy Award winners Mike and Julie Scully comes DUNCANVILLE, an animated family comedy centered around a spectacularly average 15-year-old boy with a rich fantasy life, and the people in his world. Like most 15-year-olds, DUNCAN (Poehler) can see adulthood on the horizon: money, freedom, cars, girls…but the reality is more like: always being broke, driving with your mom sitting shotgun and babysitting your little sister. He’s not exceptional, but he has a rich fantasy life where he’s never anything less than amazing.
Duncan’s mom, ANNIE (Poehler), a parking enforcement officer who dreams of someday being a detective, lives in perpetual fear that her teenage son is one bad decision from ruining his life and will do anything to stop him from doing so. Duncan’s father, JACK (Ty Burrell), a classic-rock-obsessed plumber who’s determined to be a better dad than the one he had, is constantly posting on Facebook – and annoyed that his kids won’t “friend” him.
Duncan’s younger sisters are 12-year-old KIMBERLY (Riki Lindhome), an awkward, emotional girl who can hold grudges forever; and six-year-old JING, who adores her older brother maybe a little too much and whose catchphrase is, “Watch me!,” followed by the world’s slowest cartwheel. Helping Duncan navigate adolescence are his friends, class clown BEX (Betsy Sodaro); trendy influencer YANGZI (Yassir Lester); aspiring troubled youth WOLF; and his on-again, off-again crush, MIA (Rashida Jones), who never met a cause she wouldn’t dedicate her life to.
The coolest guy in their school is MR. MITCH (Wiz Khalifa), the universally loved teacher/guidance counselor, and occasional gym coach and school nurse, due to budget cuts. Animated by Bento Box Entertainment (BOB’S BURGERS), DUNCANVILLE is in the long tradition of FOX Sunday night animation, and has just started production on a line of over-priced, shoddily produced merchandise for the whole family.
OUTMATCHED – From writer/executive producer Lon Zimmet comes OUTMATCHED, a multi-camera family comedy about a blue-collar couple in Atlantic City trying to raise four kids – three of whom just happen to be certified geniuses. For most parents, parenting is hard. But for CAY (Maggie Lawson), a caustic, take-no-prisoners casino pit boss, and husband MIKE (Jason Biggs), a handyman and uncultivated guy’s guy, parenting may as well be advanced calculus. Dealing with the demands and egos of three high-IQ children would be tricky for any parent, but it’s especially hazardous for two working stiffs who barely got through high school. Mike and Cay are committed to bringing some normalcy to their kids’ hectic, unconventional childhoods, but these geniuses don’t make it easy.
Leading the charge is BRIAN (Connor Kalopsis), a condescending and pretentious 16-year-old math whiz, who thinks he already knows more about the world than Mike and Cay ever will, even though he’s never actually been out of New Jersey. His 15-year-old sister, NICOLE (Ashley Boettcher), is a deceptive and fiercely competitive language prodigy who can manipulate her parents into getting anything she wants. The youngest and most recently anointed child prodigy is MARC (Jack Stanton), a 10-year-old music savant. Introverted and idiosyncratic, he just wants everyone to leave him alone, so he can become the next Beethoven in peace.
The only child not driving their parents crazy is eight-year-old LEILA (Oakley Bull), who is decidedly not a genius. In fact, she might be kind of dumb. She’s the only kid Mike and Cay even remotely understand.
OUTMATCHED takes an honest and heightened look at every parent’s worst fear – that they’re “ruining” their kids. When you have children with the type of gifts that can change the world, the pressure is really on. Raise them right, and these kids could cure cancer, stop global warming or invent time travel. But screw it up, and you could unleash three new super villains into the universe – good luck!
New Midseason Comedy:
THE GREAT NORTH – From executive producer Loren Bouchard (BOB’S BURGERS), animated comedy THE GREAT NORTH follows the Alaskan adventures of the Tobin family, as a single dad does his best to keep his weird bunch of kids close, especially as the artistic dreams of his only daughter lead her away from the family fishing boat and into the glamorous world of the local mall.
CBS has just debuted the first teaser trailer for the upcoming series, EVIL. The network also released two photos featuring the series’ stars along with a brief plot description and cast list.
EVIL is one of the few (if not the only, once the dust settles and the lineups are confirmed) horror series to get a primetime slot during the 2019-2020 season from one of the four major networks. The series was created by Michelle King and Robert King (The Good Wife, The Good Fight, and BrainDead) and the Kings, along with Liz Glotzer, executive produce. Robert King directed the pilot.
EVIL season one stars Katja Herbers (Westworld, The Leftovers) as Kristen Bouchard, Mike Colter (Luke Cage, The Good Wife) as David Acosta, Aasif Mandvi (Blue Bloods, A Series of Unfortunate Events) as Ben Shroff, Michael Emerson (Person of Interest, Lost) as Leland Townsend, Brooklyn Shuck (Rise, I Shudder) as Lynn Bouchard, Skylar Gray (Me, Myself and I) as Lila Bouchard, Maddy Crocco as Lexis Bouchard, and Dalya Knapp as Laura Bouchard.
The Plot:
EVIL is a psychological mystery that examines the origins of evil along the dividing line between science and religion. The series focuses on a skeptical female psychologist who joins a priest-in-training and a carpenter as they investigate the Church’s backlog of unexplained mysteries, including supposed miracles, demonic possessions and hauntings. Their job is to assess if there’s a logical explanation or if something truly supernatural is at work.
