Class Rank’s plot description has a bit of an Election ring to it, but tone-wise this appealing romantic comedy is nothing like that 1999 R-rated satirical dark comedy. And unlike most high school and coming of age films, Class Rank’s flawed characters are minus any real mean streaks.
The film revolves around the nerdy and earnest Bernard Flannigan (Skyler Gisondo, Santa Clarita Diet) and Veronica Krauss (Olivia Holt, the star of Freeform’s upcoming series Cloak & Dagger), a student body officer who’s obsessed with being number one and driven by the desire to become a Supreme Court Justice. When Veronica learns her overall rank in school is second, she immediately panics and attempts to sway those in charge to do away with rankings altogether. When that doesn’t work, she sets her sights on convincing Bernard to run for the School Board.
Bernard’s a constant presence at School Board meetings, completely unafraid of voicing his heavily researched opinions on a variety of topics that affect students. None of his requests are taken seriously, and any change he suggests is immediately voted down.
Although Bernard doesn’t have any political aspirations, Veronica’s able to convince him the best way to enact change is from within as a member of the ruling body. After much consideration, Bernard embraces the idea of running for a seat on the School Board and wholeheartedly throws himself into the campaign.
Bernard and Veronica share the same goal: to get Bernie, as Veronica rebrands him, a place on the School Board. However, their approach to drumming up support for Bernie’s campaign is dramatically different. Veronica’s used to telling people what they need to hear to get them on board her many projects (all of which are aimed at padding her résumé for college), while Bernie’s a straight-shooter who over-explains his position on any given topic. Still, they’re able to bond over the course of the campaign and their firm beliefs in doing what’s best for their fellow students win over not just their fellow peers but also the audience of this delightful comedy.
Eric Stoltz, a man who knows a thing or two about stories set in high school, directed Class Rank from a script by Benjamin August (2015’s Remember). As an actor, Stoltz spent the 1980s starring in films such as Fast Times at Ridgemont High, The Wild Life, The New Kids, Mask, and Some Kind of Wonderful. Among his recent directing credits are 12 episodes of the television high school comedy/drama, Glee. Stoltz’s experience pays off with a film that feels both genuine and timeless.
Class Rank is John Hughes-lite, so to speak, and that’s meant as a compliment. Hughes understood his audience and his films were grounded in reality, albeit a reality sprinkled with exaggerated personalities. Director Stoltz and writer August’s fictional high school is also populated with well-written, realistic characters who are dealing with complex issues while treading the awkward stage between childhood and adulthood.
Skyler Gisondo and Olivia Holt are terrific as high school students attempting to navigate through one of the most difficult stages of life. Stoltz surrounds Gisondo and Holt with a talented cast of supporting players that includes Bruce Dern, Kristin Chenoweth, and Kathleen Chalfant. In fact, Dern’s so good as Gisondo’s grandfather that it would have been fun to spend a bit more time with his character. The on-screen relationship between Gisondo and Dern is so compelling it nearly outshines Gisondo’s scenes with Holt.
Class Rank is an engaging coming of age film with a few unexpected twists that keep it from being too predictable. And, thankfully, the political campaign at the center of the film bears no resemblance to current affairs.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: Not rated
Running Time 101 minutes
Release Date: Cinedigm’s releasing Class Rank in theaters, on digital, and On Demand on May 11, 2018
Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves photographed by Peggy Sirota exclusively for EW’s ‘Bill & Ted’ Reunion on March 14th 2018 in Los Angeles CA.
All you naysayers who were so sure there would never be a third Bill & Ted film have just been proven wrong. BLOOM officially confirmed today that Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter are reprising their roles as Ted “Theodore” Logan and Bill S Preston Esq in Bill & Ted Face the Music. The third film follows Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure released in 1989 and Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey which hit theaters in 1991.
Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon, the creators of Bill & Ted, wrote the script for the long-awaited third film of the franchise. Stephen Herek directed the first film of the series, Peter Hewitt directed the second, and Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest) is on board to direct the third. Scott Kroopf (Limitless), Alex Lebovici, and Steve Ponce are producing. Steven Soderbergh, Scott Fischer, John Ryan Jr., and John Santilli are attached as executive producers. MGM’s Orion Pictures is releasing the film in the U.S.
“We couldn’t be more excited to get the whole band back together again. Chris and Ed wrote an amazing script, and with Dean at the helm we’ve got a dream team!” stated Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter.
“Fans of Bill and Ted have been waiting for Reeves and Winter to reunite since their last Bogus Journey in 1991. This is excellent!” added BLOOM’s Alex Walton.
The Plot: When we last met Bill and Ted they were time-traveling teenagers trying to pass history class and win the battle of the bands. Once prophesized to save the universe with their rock and roll, middle age and the responsibilities of family have caught up with these two best friends who have not yet fulfilled their destiny. They’ve written thousands of tunes, but they have yet to write a good one, much less the greatest song ever written.
With the fabric of time and space tearing around them, a visitor from the future warns our heroes that only their song can save life as we know it. Out of luck and fresh out of inspiration, Bill and Ted set out on a time travel adventure to seek the song that will set their world right and bring harmony in the universe as we know it. Together with the aid of their daughters, a new crop of historical figures, and some sympathetic music legends, Bill and Ted find much, much more than just a song.
LAIKA has confirmed the name of its fifth theatrical release as well as revealing a plot description and character details. The award-winning animation studio’s fifth film will be titled Missing Link and is expected to enter theaters next spring.
LAIKA recently announced the voice cast will be led by Hugh Jackman (The Greatest Showman), Zoe Saldana (the Guardians of the Galaxy films and the Star Trek franchise), and Zach Galifianakis (the Hangover film franchise). New members of the voice cast include Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility), Stephen Fry (The Hobbit), Timothy Olyphant (Justified), Matt Lucas (Alice In Wonderland), David Walliams (Little Britain), Amrita Acharia (Game of Thrones), and Ching Valdes-Aran (Nurse Jackie). Chris Butler (ParaNorman) wrote and will direct Missing Link.
Annapurna Pictures is releasing the film in the U.S.
“Missing Link is an artistic and technical wonder,” said LAIKA President & CEO Travis Knight. “Led by our visionary director Chris Butler, LAIKA has once again blended fine art, craftsmanship, and cutting-edge technology to achieve something we’ve never tried before: a raucous comedy entwined with a swashbuckling epic, underscoring the universal need to find belonging. Commingling keenly felt emotion, madcap humor, and retina-bursting visuals, Missing Link is a kaleidoscopic cinematic experience unlike any other. It’s the most striking thing we’ve ever done.”
“It’s only now with our fifth film that as a team we have the experience, the know-how and the collaborative confidence to even attempt a movie of this size and scope,” stated producer Arianne Sutner. “We created 110 sets with 65 unique locations to achieve the film’s scale, majesty and geographic beauty. I couldn’t be more in awe of our LAIKA crew members. Their endless reserves of imagination were pushed to the limit during the production of this ambitious movie, and we ended up soaring past those limits.”/p>
“It was a constant source of delight to witness how our game and captivating cast imbued these larger-than-life characters with distinct personality,” added writer/director Chris Butler. “Hugh lends Sir Lionel a giddy schoolboy enthusiasm bubbling beneath the surface of his suave English gent; Zoe brings an unflappable ardor and a witty playfulness to Adelina, and Zach’s performance as Link is not only laugh-out-loud funny, but a beautifully nuanced balance of innocence and vulnerability. It was a treat to be able to join this eclectic gang of adventurers on their journey across the world.”
The Missing Link Plot and Characters: The charismatic Sir Lionel Frost (voiced by Hugh Jackman) considers himself to be the world’s foremost investigator of myths and monsters. The trouble is none of his small-minded high-society peers seems to recognize this. Sir Lionel’s last chance for acceptance by the adventuring elite rests on traveling to America’s Pacific Northwest to prove the existence of a legendary creature. A living remnant of Man’s primitive ancestry. The Missing Link.
Zach Galifianakis is Mr. Link: the slightly silly, surprisingly smart and soulful beast upon whom Sir Lionel’s dreams depend. As species go, he’s as endangered as they get; he’s the last of his kind, and he’s lonely. Proposing a daring quest to seek out his rumored distant relatives, he enlists Sir Lionel’s help in an odyssey around the world to find the fabled valley of Shangri-La.
Together with Adelina Fortnight (voiced by Zoe Saldana), an independent and resourceful adventurer who possesses the only known map to the group’s secret destination, the unlikely trio embarks on a riotous rollercoaster of a ride. Along the way, our fearless explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril, stalked at every turn by dastardly villains seeking to thwart their mission. Through it all, Mr. Link’s disarming charm and good-humored conviction provide the emotional and comedic foundation of this fun-filled family film.
The CW’s iZombie writers’ title game is definitely on point this year, and rebooting the series by placing the action in a walled-off zombie city has reinvigorated the show. iZombie‘s one of The CW’s few series that still hasn’t learned its fate regarding the 2018-2019 primetime season. The 100 was just renewed on May 7, 2018 for a sixth season, but thus far The CW’s been silent on a fifth season for the zombie comedy/drama. With only a couple of episodes left in the current season, we should be learning soon if #TeamLiv will return to investigate more murders next year.
Up next, season four episode 11 titled “Insane in the Germ Brain” airing May 14, 2018. The episode was directed by Jude Weng from a script by Dean Lorey.
The cast of season four includes Rose McIver as Olivia “Liv” Moore, Malcolm Goodwin as Clive Babineaux, Rahul Kohli as Dr. Ravi Chakrabarti, Robert Buckley as Major Lilywhite, David Anders as Blaine DeBeers, Aly Michalka as Peyton Charles, Bryce Hodgson as Don E., Jason Dohring as Chase Graves, and Robert Knepper as Angus McDonough.
The “Insane in the Germ Brain” Plot: LIV ON GERMAPHOBE BRAIN — Liv (McIver) does Clive (Goodwin) a solid and agrees to consume germaphobe brain during flu season. Ravi (Kohli) continues his role as surrogate father to Isobel (guest star Izabela Vidovic). Major (Buckley) finally gets to the bottom of things, and Chase (Dohring) continues to spiral out of control. Lastly, Peyton (Michalka) struggles with a very important decision.
Owen (Chris Pratt) with a baby Velociraptor in ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.’ (Photo Credit: Universal Pictures)
Avengers: Infinity War kicked off the 2018 summer movie season a bit early, opening on April 27th and obliterating a slew of box office records. The superhero-packed action film set the bar high for this year’s summer theatrical releases, earning an 84% fresh rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an A average from ticket buyers, according to Cinemascore. The box office blockbuster paved the way for a summer full of superheroes both animated and live action.
This summer’s films also include a new entry in the Ocean‘s film franchise, although this time the gang pulling off a heist is made up of smart women. Audiences will be able to explore a galaxy far, far away with the arrival of Han Solo’s backstory, and we’ll be treated to the story behind the first purge. A return trip to visit the world of dinosaurs, Tom Cruise tackling another batch of wild stunts, and the sequel to the ABBA-centric musical Mamma Mia! are all on tap for summer movie audiences. Puppets, a Predator, a demonic nun, and a pre-historic 75-foot-long shark will also put in appearances in movie theaters over the hot summer months.
Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated 2018 summer movies, listed in release date order.
2018 Summer Movies Preview:
Deadpool 2 (May 18) starring Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, and Brianna Hildebrand
The Plot: After surviving a near fatal bovine attack, a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his dream of becoming Mayberry’s hottest bartender while also learning to cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the yakuza, and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor – finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug title of World’s Best Lover.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (May 25) starring Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Woody Harrelson, and Emilia Clarke
The Plot: Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in Solo: A Star Wars Story, an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo befriends his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.
Adrift (June 1) starring Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin
The Plot:Adrift is based on the inspiring true story of two free spirits whose chance encounter leads them first to love, and then to the adventure of a lifetime. As the two avid sailors set out on a journey across the ocean, Tami Oldham (Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Claflin) couldn’t anticipate they would be sailing directly into one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history.
In the aftermath of the storm, Tami awakens to find Richard badly injured and their boat in ruins. With no hope for rescue, Tami must find the strength and determination to save herself and the only man she has ever loved. Adrift is the unforgettable story about the resilience of the human spirit and the transcendent power of love.
Hereditary (June 8) starring Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, and Gabriel Byrne
The Plot: When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. The more they discover, the more they find themselves trying to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited.
Making his feature debut, writer-director Ari Aster unleashes a nightmare vision of a domestic breakdown that exhibits the craft and precision of a nascent auteur, transforming a familial tragedy into something ominous and deeply disquieting, and pushing the horror movie into chilling new terrain with its shattering portrait of heritage gone to hell.
Ocean’s 8 (June 8) starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Awkwafina, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, and Sarah Paulson
The Plot: Five years, eight months, 12 days…and counting. That’s how long Debbie Ocean (Bullock) has been devising the biggest heist of her life. She knows what it’s going to take—a team of the best in their field, starting with her partner-in-crime Lou Miller (Blanchett). Together, they recruit a crew of specialists: jeweler Amita (Kaling); street con Constance (Awkwafina); expert fence Tammy (Paulson); hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna); and fashion designer Rose (Bonham Carter).
The target is a cool $150 million dollars in diamonds—diamonds that will be around the neck of world-famous actress Daphne Kluger (Hathaway), who will be centerstage at the event of the year, the Met Gala. The plan is rock solid, but everything will need to be flawless if the team is going to get in and get away with the ice. All in plain sight.
Incredibles 2 (June 15) featuring the voices of Holly Hunter, Samuel L Jackson, Craig T Nelson, Huck Milner, and Sarah Vowell
The Plot: In Incredibles 2, Helen (Hunter) is called on to lead a campaign to bring Supers back, while Bob (Nelson) navigates the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life at home with Violet (Vowell), Dash (Milner) and baby Jack-Jack—whose superpowers are about to be discovered. Their mission is derailed, however, when a new villain emerges with a brilliant and dangerous plot that threatens everything. But the Parrs don’t shy away from a challenge, especially with Frozone (Jackson) by their side. That’s what makes this family so Incredible.
Tag (June 15) starring Ed Helms, Jake Johnson, Annabelle Wallis, Rashida Jones, Isla Fisher, Leslie Bibb, Hannibal Buress, Jon Hamm, and Jeremy Renner
The Plot: One month every year, five highly competitive friends hit the ground running in a no-holds-barred game of tag they’ve been playing since the first grade—risking their necks, their jobs and their relationships to take each other down with the battle cry “You’re It!” This year, the game coincides with the wedding of their only undefeated player, which should finally make him an easy target. But he knows they’re coming…and he’s ready. Based on a true story, Tag shows how far some guys will go to be the last man standing.
The Plot: It’s been four years since theme park and luxury resort Jurassic World was destroyed by dinosaurs out of containment. Isla Nublar now sits abandoned by humans while the surviving dinosaurs fend for themselves in the jungles.
When the island’s dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen (Pratt) and Claire (Howard) mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event. Owen is driven to find Blue, his lead raptor who’s still missing in the wild, and Claire has grown a respect for these creatures she now makes her mission. Arriving on the unstable island as lava begins raining down, their expedition uncovers a conspiracy that could return our entire planet to a perilous order not seen since prehistoric times.
With all of the wonder, adventure and thrills synonymous with one of the most popular and successful series in cinema history, this all-new motion-picture event sees the return of favorite characters and dinosaurs—along with new breeds more awe-inspiring and terrifying than ever before. Welcome to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
Josh Brolin, Jeffrey Donovan and Benicio Del Toro in ‘Sicario: Day of the Soldado’ (Photo Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr. SMPSP)
The Plot: In Sicario: Day of the Soldado, the series begins a new chapter. In the drug war, there are no rules – and as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border, federal agent Matt Graver (Brolin) calls on the mysterious Alejandro (Del Toro), whose family was murdered by a cartel kingpin, to escalate the war in nefarious ways. Alejandro kidnaps the kingpin’s daughter to inflame the conflict – but when the girl is seen as collateral damage, her fate will come between the two men as they question everything they are fighting for.
The First Purge (July 4) starring Y’Lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, Luna Lauren Velez, and Marisa Tomei
The Plot: Behind every tradition lies a revolution. Next Independence Day, witness the rise of our country’s 12 hours of annual lawlessness. Welcome to the movement that began as a simple experiment: The First Purge. To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA) test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the marginalized, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation.
Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 6) starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena, Walton Goggins, and Bobby Cannavale
The Plot: From the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes Ant Man and the Wasp, a new chapter featuring heroes with the astonishing ability to shrink. In the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from the past.
A scene from ‘Hotel Transylvania 3.
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (July 13) featuring the voices of Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, and Keegan-Michael Key
The Plot: In Sony Pictures Animation’s Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, join our favorite monster family as they embark on a vacation on a luxury monster cruise ship so Drac can take a summer vacation from providing everyone else’s vacation at the hotel. It’s smooth sailing for Drac’s Pack as the monsters indulge in all of the shipboard fun the cruise has to offer, from monster volleyball to exotic excursions, and catching up on their moon tans. But the dream vacation turns into a nightmare when Mavis realizes Drac has fallen for the mysterious captain of the ship, Ericka, who hides a dangerous secret that could destroy all of monsterkind.
Skyscraper (July 13) starring Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Noah Taylor, and Pablo Schreiber
The Plot: Global icon Dwayne Johnson leads the cast of Legendary’s Skyscraper as former FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader and U.S. war veteran Will Sawyer, who now assesses security for skyscrapers. On assignment in China he finds the tallest, safest building in the world suddenly ablaze, and he’s been framed for it. A wanted man on the run, Will must find those responsible, clear his name and somehow rescue his family who is trapped inside the building…above the fire line.
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! (July 20) starring Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Dominic Cooper, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård, and Colin Firth
The Plot: Ten years after Mamma Mia! The Movie grossed more than $600 million around the world, you are invited to return to the magical Greek island of Kalokairi in an all-new original musical based on the songs of ABBA.
The Plot: The best intentions often come back to haunt you. Mission: Impossible – Fallout finds Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his IMF team (Baldwin, Pegg, Rhames) along with some familiar allies (Rebecca Ferguson, Michelle Monaghan) in a race against time after a mission gone wrong.
Ewan McGregor plays Christopher Robin opposite his longtime friend Winnie the Pooh in Disney’s heartwarming live action adventure ‘Christopher Robin.’
Christopher Robin (August 3) starring Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, and the voice of Jim Cummings
The Plot: In the heartwarming live action adventure, the young boy who embarked on countless adventures in the Hundred Acre Wood with his band of spirited and lovable stuffed animals, has grown up and lost his way. Now it is up to his childhood friends to venture into our world and help Christopher Robin remember the loving and playful boy who is still inside.
The Spy Who Dumped Me (August 3) starring Mila Kunis, Kate McKinnon, Justin Theroux, and Sam Heughan
The Plot: The film tells the story of Audrey (Kunis) and Morgan (McKinnon), thirty-year-old best friends from Los Angeles, who are unexpectedly thrust into an international conspiracy when Audrey’s ex-boyfriend (Theroux) shows up at her apartment with a team of deadly assassins on his trail. Much to their own surprise, the duo jump into action, and find themselves on the run in Europe from the assassins and a suspiciously charming British agent (Heughan), as they hatch a plan to save the world.
The Meg (August 10) starring Jason Statham, Winston Chao, and Li Bingbing
The Plot: In the film, a deep-sea submersible — part of an international undersea observation program — has been attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct, and now lies disabled at the bottom of the deepest trench in the Pacific…with its crew trapped inside. With time running out, expert deep sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Statham) is recruited by a visionary Chinese oceanographer (Chao), against the wishes of his daughter Suyin (Bingbing), to save the crew—and the ocean itself—from this unstoppable threat: a pre-historic 75-foot-long shark known as the Megalodon.
What no one could have imagined is that, years before, Taylor had encountered this same terrifying creature. Now, teamed with Suyin, he must confront his fears and risk his own life to save everyone trapped below…bringing him face to face once more with the greatest and largest predator of all time.
A scene from Warner Bros. Pictures’ and SK Global Entertainment’s contemporary romantic comedy, ‘Crazy Rich Asians.’
Crazy Rich Asians (August 17) starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, and Michelle Yeoh
The Plot: The story follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu (Wu) as she accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (Golding), to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. Excited about visiting Asia for the first time but nervous about meeting Nick’s family, Rachel is unprepared to learn that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life.
It turns out that he is not only the scion of one of the country’s wealthiest families but also one of its most sought-after bachelors. Being on Nick’s arm puts a target on Rachel’s back, with jealous socialites and, worse, Nick’s own disapproving mother (Yeoh) taking aim. And it soon becomes clear that while money can’t buy love, it can definitely complicate things.
The Happytime Murders (August 17) starring Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, and Maya Rudolph
The Plot: The comedy is set in the underbelly of Los Angeles where puppets and humans coexist. Two clashing detectives, one human and one puppet, are forced to work together to try and solve who is brutally murdering the former cast of The Happytime Gang, a beloved classic puppet show.
The Nun (September 7) starring Taissa Farmiga, Demian Bichir, Charlotte Hope, and Bonnie Aarons
The Plot: When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest (Bichir) with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows (Farmiga) are sent by the Vatican to investigate. Together they uncover the order’s unholy secret. Risking not only their lives but their faith and their very souls, they confront a malevolent force in the form of the same demonic nun that first terrorized audiences in The Conjuring 2, as the abbey becomes a horrific battleground between the living and the damned.
A Simple Favor (September 14) starring Blake Lively, Anna Kendrick, Linda Cardellini, Jean Smart, and Rupert Friend
The Plot: A Simple Favor centers around Stephanie (Kendrick), a mommy vlogger who seeks to uncover the truth behind her best friend Emily’s (Lively) sudden disappearance from their small town. Stephanie is joined by Emily’s husband Sean (Golding) in this stylish thriller filled with twists and betrayals, secrets and revelations, love and loyalty, murder and revenge.
The Predator (September 14) starring Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes, Jacob Tremblay, Keegan-Michael Key, Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown, Alfie Allen, Thomas Jane, Augusto Aguilera, Jake Busey, and Yvonne Strahovski
The Plot: From the outer reaches of space to the small-town streets of suburbia, the hunt comes home in Shane Black’s explosive reinvention of the Predator series. Now, the universe’s most lethal hunters are stronger, smarter and deadlier than ever before, having genetically upgraded themselves with DNA from other species. When a young boy accidentally triggers their return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and a disgruntled science teacher can prevent the end of the human race.
The Plot: The magical adventure tells the spine-tingling tale of 10-year-old Lewis (Vaccaro) who goes to live with his uncle in a creaky old house with a mysterious tick-tocking heart. But his new town’s sleepy facade jolts to life with a secret world of warlocks and witches when Lewis accidentally awakens the dead.
Life Itself (September 21) starring Oscar Isaac, Olivia Wilde, Mandy Patinkin, Olivia Cooke, Laia Costa, Annette Bening, and Antonio Banderas
The Plot:Life Itself centers on a couple (Isaac and Wilde) who lead a multi generational love story spanning both decades and continents, from the streets of New York to the Spanish countryside, and are all connected by a single event.
Night School (September 28) starring Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Rob Riggle, Taran Killam, and Romany Malco
The Plot: Star Kevin Hart and producer Will Packer, who partnered for the hit Ride Along and Think Like a Man series, bring their signature style to Night School. The comedy from director Malcolm D. Lee follows a group of misfits who are forced to attend adult classes in the longshot chance they’ll pass the GED exam.
Serenity (September 28) starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jason Clarke, Djimon Hounsou, Jeremy Strong, and Diane Lane
The Plot: A fishing boat captain’s (McConaughey) mysterious past, in the form of a glamorous woman (Hathaway), crashes up against his simple life on a small island in the Caribbean and ensnares him in a new reality that might not be all it seems.
Tom Ellis and Tricia Helfer in the “Quintessential Deckerstar” episode of ‘Lucifer’ (Photo by Erik Voake/FOX)
Fox hasn’t announced if Lucifer will be sticking around for a fourth season, however season three episode 23 makes an excellent case for why this smartly written, well acted show needs to continue. Season three episode 23 begins with Charlotte (Tricia Helfer) and Dan (Kevin Alejandro) waking up after spending the night together, and Charlotte admits she’s happy Dan revealed his feelings. They get up and help her kids make breakfast when suddenly a man with a gun barges in, face transforming into a different criminal she defended as he shoots the kids and then Dan.
Of course, that was just a nightmare, and fortunately, Dan’s next to her in bed to provide comfort.
Lucifer (Tom Ellis) visits Dr. Linda (Rachael Harris) and she wants to know if now he’ll spill the complete truth to Chloe. He doesn’t think there’s a need since she broke it off with Pierce. He doesn’t want to push things. Plus, she’s on the rebound. He just wants things to get back to normal. In fact, he decides to “do” normal – not just say it.
Chloe (Lauren German) arrives at a murder scene and Ella (Aimee Garcia) immediately apologizes for the bachelorette party from hell. Meanwhile, Lucifer’s also on the scene but he’s, bizarrely, playing the piano. He wants things to get back to normal and this is supposed to remind Chloe of their beginnings as partners. Chloe agrees she wants to normalize life again.
The victim, Devon, is baseball superstar Forest ‘King’ Clay’s wife. Instead of concentrating on their new case, Lucifer’s stuck in the “be normal” mode and reliving his greatest hits with Chloe. He lights up a joint at the scene, simply because he did that once before in their early days together.
Chloe, sticking with the case and trying not to worry about her weird partner, wonders about the broken lock, and apparently, it wasn’t a home invasion because nothing was taken. Forest was home at the time but was knocked out and is currently at the hospital.
And less than a quarter of the way into the episode, Lucifer utters the episode’s title. When Chloe finds a shell casing, Lucifer says, “That is perfect, detective. My shenanigans leading to a break in the case – that is quintessential Deckerstar.”
Elsewhere, Amenadiel (DB Woodside) and Charlotte toast to splitting up Pierce and Chloe. Charlotte thinks she’s still going to Hell, but Amenadiel tells her to celebrate the tiny victories. But then Charlotte reminds him he’s mortal right now and he realizes if he dies, he’s not sure he’ll make it to Heaven.
At the station, Charlotte spots Forest Clay (Doug Savant) and she confesses to Lucifer that Forest is in her Hell loop. She knows he must be the killer.
Forest goes over his story with Chloe and his lawyer, Ben Wheeler (Colin Egglesfield). He explains he saw a person with a gun and a mask before he was hit. When he came to, his wife was already dead. He doesn’t recall anything that would help them find the killer.
After the interview, Charlotte informs Chloe and Lucifer that 13 years ago she was given a bag to incinerate. The bag belonged to Forest Clay. She knows there was dried blood on the duffel bag, but never looked inside. She truly believes she helped cover up a murder.
Lucifer believes Charlotte’s telling the truth. He then explains the honest-to-goodness actual truth to Chloe. Lucifer says Charlotte went to Hell when she died, and Forest was in her Hell loop. He’s now in her nightmares. He goes on to explain that Dan’s in the loop now too, which is an interesting development. Charlotte laughs and says it’s nonsense, and Chloe of course just ignores the beans Lucifer just spilled.
Over at Lux, Amenadiel’s day-drinking and Lucifer wonders why. Amenadiel confesses he thinks humans and celestial beings aren’t that different. Everything Amenadiel has believed about why he’s on Earth has all been a guess. He now believes that he and Lucifer should judge themselves and they have control, not their dad. Lucifer pooh-poohs that revelation, saying if it’s true then Amenadiel should just sprout wings right now. He should be able to if he controls such things. Amenadiel’s forced to admit he hasn’t finished reasoning it all out.
Dan and Chloe go over Forest’s history and he’s clean. However, Ella reveals the cut on Forest’s face didn’t come from a gun like Forest said. He lied; the wound was caused by something sharp.
Lucifer and Chloe return to Forest’s place and question him about the murder. Lucifer does his mind trick and Forest admits he wasn’t there. He was with Mia, a bartender from his country club.
Mia (Emma Bell) comes to the station and confirms Forest’s alibi. He was injured when he fell out of bed and shattered a lamp during sex. Mia also reveals Devon had a long-term affair with her CEO.
Over at Pierce’s new place, Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt) tries to sneak up on him but Pierce (Tom Welling) is aware she’s there. She has her demon blade ready to use, but he has a gun and so it’s a standoff. Pierce has something important to talk about that doesn’t involve either of them killing each other. He reminds her only Lucifer can fly her down to Hell, and his new plan is that they need to kill Amenadiel. He’ll do it if Maze weakens him. That should piss off God and they can frame Lucifer for the deed.
Next, Chloe and Lucifer head over to Devon and Forest’s company’s office and confront the CEO. He denies the affair and says they only spent a lot of late hours together getting their new shoe line ready to launch before a knock-off hit the stores first. They worried about corporate spies and even chased one from the place recently but didn’t catch him.
Chloe thinks maybe the corporate spy was actually stalking Devon, not the sneakers.
Amenadiel acts like he needs a lawyer and has an appointment with Ben Wheeler. Charlotte’s also at Wheeler’s office and she causes a scene when she confronts him with the realization there are consequences for what they’ve done and who they’ve defended. She also explains Hell is real and of course Ben calls for security.
After Charlotte’s escorted out, Amenadiel pretends he’s decided not to use this firm. Outside, Amenadiel confirms he got what they came for.
Kevin Alejandro in the “Quintessential Deckerstar” episode of ‘Lucifer’ (Photo by Erik Voake/FOX)
Ella, Chloe, and Lucifer look at the security video and find the spy on camera four times. However, he’s keeping his face hidden and they can’t identify him. As they’re talking, Dan receives a package. It’s a waffle maker he got for Charlotte because she doesn’t have a good one. Lucifer’s pleased Dan’s back to his douchey ways. Then Dan pulls out a bracelet with a waffle charm, and Chloe and Lucifer agree it’s the better choice of gift.
Charlotte and Amenadiel look over the info Amenadiel retrieved from Ben’s computer. There’s a list of 14 non-disclosure agreements. Forest’s been paying $300k to $400k to each woman. Charlotte thinks she figured out who Forest killed when she threw away the evidence. But, she still can’t prove he’s the killer.
After leaving Charlotte, Amenadiel finds Maze crying in the parking lot. She claims she has no one and everything’s ruined. He assures her it’s not too late to fix things, giving her a hug as they talk. He also declares he’ll always be there for her. That bit of news causes Maze to stop just inches away from secretly injecting him with some substance.
Lucifer arrives at Chloe’s and wants to play Monopoly with her and Trixie. He thinks it’ll transport them back to a happier time. He even wants them to land on the same spaces, but Trixie says playing exactly the same game as before isn’t fun.
After Trixie leaves to do her book report, Lucifer grabs Chloe and makes her dance. Chloe gets upset, believing Lucifer’s making fun of her. Lucifer explains he just wants them to get back to normal, but Chloe admits that right now normal hurts. She asks him to leave and Lucifer looks heartbroken.
The next day at the station, Chloe’s excited to show Ella that the spy wasn’t necessarily after Devon. He seems to have been shadowing Forest, and Forest might have been the intended target. Chloe’s a bit hyper and looks like she hasn’t slept – which she hasn’t. She admits it’s not because of Pierce. She thinks it’s actually about Lucifer. Chloe confesses to Ella that Lucifer’s why she said yes and then no to Pierce. (Yes, Chloe! You figured it out, even if it took massive doses of caffeine to come to that conclusion!)
Chloe and Ella return to talking about work when Charlotte comes in and claims she’s figured it out. AJ Agholor is the spy on the video surveillance. He went to jail in 2005 for a murder Forest actually committed. She explains how she figured it out and that AJ just got out of prison.
Maze returns to Pierce empty-handed and Pierce accuses her of going soft, something no one should ever say to a demon. She beats the crap out of him when he says he’ll kill Amenadiel himself.
Chloe brings in AJ (J. Anthony Pena) and lays out her case. She even reveals she knows he didn’t commit murder in 2005. AJ confesses the woman who was killed was his ex-fiancée and she broke off their engagement because of Forest. She wanted to leave Forest, but Forest killed her first. Unfortunately, there was never any proof that Forest was the murderer.
Lucifer arrives and catches the tail end of the interrogation. He’s noticeably upset Chloe caught the bad guy without him.
Chloe tells Charlotte she has an idea how to get Forest.
Maze continues to beat up Pierce, but he gets in a few good licks. She’s about to kill him when he explains that he’s arranged it so that Linda will die if Amenadiel doesn’t. Maze is distracted and Pierce grabs the syringe which fell during the fight and injects Maze. Maze passes out.
Forest’s at his place with Mia when Charlotte drops in to tell him she knows about the NDAs and about how he abused each of those women. Mia has already told Charlotte about how Forest really got the cut on his head while he was strangling her. Forest wonders how much they want and Charlotte tells him all of it, since he’s a murderer. She springs the name of the murder victim on him and reveals she’s the one who was told to get rid of the bloody duffel bag. She lies and says she kept it.
Forest still believes he can pay them off and acts like he’s getting his checkbook. Instead, he grabs Mia and threatens to kill her.
Lucifer knocks on the door and then hears the commotion inside.
Forest confesses to the murder and Charlotte refuses to help him. Chloe appears, gun drawn, and confirms they set this up and recorded everything. Forest finally lets Mia go and Chloe’s able to place him under arrest.
Lucifer watches from outside, knowing Chloe handled this without him.
Later, Charlotte and Amenadiel look out over the City of Angels and share their stories. Amenadiel has come to the conclusion everything he’s doing he’s doing for himself. He now believes he took his own wings away. He also confesses angels are as flawed as humans. He points out Charlotte just stopped a serial abuser and a murderer who’ll never hurt anyone again.
As they talk, Charlotte hears something in the nearby bushes. She steps in front of Amenadiel and is shot twice! Pierce runs from the scene as Charlotte bleeds and gasps for breath.
Lucifer compliments Chloe on a job well done and confesses he knows she doesn’t need him. He’s had an epiphany and now understands she’s working with him not because she has to but because she chooses to. He also understands the return to normal thing was just a way of not dealing with the present. In a heartbreaking moment, Lucifer tells Chloe he believes if she saw all of him and knew everything, she’d run away.
He can’t show her his Devil face, but he says in a deeply serious manner, “I am the Devil.”
Chloe holds his face in her hands and tells him he’s not to her. They kiss and then are pulled apart when the phone rings. Chloe answers and learns Charlotte’s been shot.
Amenadiel cradles Charlotte, promising her he’ll get help. She thinks cheating death twice is too much. He asks why she jumped in front of him, and she says it wasn’t for herself – it was redemption. Amenadiel smiles and laughs as Charlotte cries. She asks him to stay with her and he says he will as the light fades from her eyes. Amenadiel cries as he holds her lifeless body.
Amenadiel looks to the sky and then bows his head. His wings spring out in all their glory as he stands, still holding Charlotte’s body. He looks again to the sky and says, “Let’s go home.”
He flies to Heaven with Charlotte.
Her body is still on the ground where she fell after being shot when Chloe and Lucifer arrive on the scene. Chloe cries as she bends over Charlotte. Dan also races to the scene and scoops up Charlotte. He’s devastated as he cradles the woman he loves. She’s wearing the waffle bracelet he just gave her.
Lucifer finds Amenadiel’s feather next to Charlotte’s body. He picks it up and looks toward Heaven.
Ready or not, ABC’s Once Upon a Time‘s seven season run is about to come to an end. The network’s just released photos and details on part one of the series finale, “Homecoming,” set to air on May 11, 2018 at 8pm ET/PT. Season seven episode 21 finds a batch of familiar faces returning to help send the popular fantasy series off by saying a final goodbye to the show’s passionate fans. Among the guest stars for the “Homecoming” episode are Jared Gilmore as Young Henry, Robbie Kay as Peter Pan, Victoria Smurfit as Cruella De Vil, JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Ariel, Timothy Webber as The Apprentice, Rose Reynolds as Alice/Tilly, Tiera Skovbye as Robin/Margot, Jeff Pierre as Prince Naveen/Drew, and Trevor Roberts as Remy.
Season seven episode 21 was directed by Steve Pearlman from a script by David H. Goodman.
Season seven stars Lana Parrilla as Regina/Roni, Robert Carlyle as Rumpelstiltskin/Weaver, Colin O’Donoghue as Hook/Rogers, Andrew J. West as Henry Mills, Gabrielle Anwar as Lady Tremaine/Victoria Belfrey, Dania Ramirez as Cinderella/Jacinda, Alison Fernandez as Lucy, Mekia Cox as Sabine/Tiana, and Adelaide Kane as Drizella/Ivy.
The “Homecoming” Plot: As the residents of Hyperion Heights celebrate the breaking of the curse, Henry is visited by Wish Rumple, who’s hatched an evil plan to use Ella and Lucy to keep Weaver from destroying the Dark One powers. In order to stop him, Henry, Roni, Weaver and Rogers must travel to the Wish Realm, home to versions of some of our most beloved and fearsome characters. In a flashback, a discouraged Young Henry is visited by Wish Rumple and offered a deal that could have tragic consequences, on Part One of the series finale of Once Upon a Time.
Colin O’Donoghue stars in ‘Once Upon a Time’ season 7 episode 21 (ABC/Jack Rowand)Lana Parrilla in the “Homecoming” episode of ‘Once Upon a Time’ (ABC/Jack Rowand)Keegan Connor Tracy and Lee Arenberg in ‘Once Upon a Time’ season 7 episode 21 (ABC/Jack Rowand)Robert Carlyle stars in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (ABC/Jack Rowand)Lana Parrilla in ‘Once Upon a Time’ (ABC/Jack Rowand)Beverley Elliott in ‘Once Upon a Time’ season 7 episode 21 (ABC/Jack Rowand)
Fox has officially announced the medical drama The Resident has been renewed for a second season. The series has been averaging an impressive 10 million viewers per episode, which is up more than 31% over the network’s same primetime time slot in 2017.
The Resident season one stars Matt Czuchry (The Good Wife), Bruce Greenwood (The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, Mad Men), Manish Dayal (Halt and Catch Fire), Emily VanCamp (Revenge), Moran Atias (24: Legacy), Merrin Dungey (Big Little Lies), Shaunette Renée Wilson (Billions), and Melina Kanakaredes (CSI: NY, Providence). Todd Harthan (Rosewood), Amy Holden Jones (Mystic Pizza, Indecent Proposal), Rob Corn (Grey’s Anatomy), Antoine Fuqua (Southpaw, Training Day), David Boorstein (Level 26: Dark Revelations), Oly Obst (The Mick, Ghosted), and Phillip Noyce (Patriot Games, The Bone Collector) serve as executive producers. Noyce also directed the show’s first episode.
“Amy, Todd and all the producers on The Resident set out to create a medical show that viewers haven’t seen before – to peel back the curtain and reveal the truth of what happens, both good and bad, behind the scenes at hospitals across the country. Clearly, they’ve succeeded,” stated Michael Thorn, President, Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. “Matt, Emily, Bruce, Manish, Shaunette and the show’s entire cast have turned in consistently heartfelt performances, and we are so excited to go back to Chastain Memorial for another tremendous season.”
The show’s first season is heading toward the finale, with The Resident season one’s penultimate episode airing on May 7, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT.
The Plot:The Resident is a powerful new medical show focusing on a young doctor’s final years of training that rips back the curtain to reveal the truth of what really happens, both good and bad, in hospitals across the country.
In the May 7, 2018 episode titled “Run, Doctor, Run,” Conrad (Czuchry) and Devon (Dayal) race against the clock to save the life of a woman who is deteriorating fast from undetermined symptoms. Meanwhile, Bell (Greenwood) must remain calm when Austin (guest star Malcolm-Jamal Warner) impulsively pulls him into a procedure. Then, tensions rise as Nic (VanCamp) continues her search for evidence to incriminate Lane (Kanakaredes), but must simultaneously tend to her sister, Jessie (guest star Julianna Guill), who is rushed into the ER.
A little over a month out from the season two premiere, Netflix has launched a full trailer for Marvel’s Luke Cage along with releasing a new poster and photos. The comic book-inspired action series will premiere on June 22, 2018 with Mike Colter reprising his role as Luke Cage.
The much anticipated second season will consist of 13 hour-long episodes.
In addition to Mike Colter (Extinction), the season two cast includes Simone Missick (Ray Donovan), Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave), Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy), Mustafa Shakir (The Deuce), Gabrielle Dennis (Rosewood), and Rosario Dawson (Marvel’s Daredevil).
The series is executive produced by showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker (Ray Donovan), Jim Chory (Marvel’s Jessica Jones), and Marvel’s Head of Television Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Jessica Jones). Lucy Liu directed the second season’s first episode.
About Marvel’s Luke Cage Season Two: After clearing his name, Luke Cage (Mike Colter) has become a celebrity on the streets of Harlem with a reputation as bulletproof as his skin. But being so visible has only increased his need to protect the community and find the limits of who he can and can’t save. With the rise of a formidable new foe, Luke is forced to confront the fine line that separates a hero from a villain.
A Look Back at Season One: After a sabotaged experiment leaves him with super strength and unbreakable skin, Luke Cage becomes a fugitive trying to rebuild his life in modern day Harlem, New York City. But he is soon pulled out of the shadows and must fight a battle for the heart of his city – forcing him to confront a past he had tried to bury.
Mike Colter and Rosario Dawson in ‘Marvel’s Luke Cage’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Netflix)Theo Rossi stars in ‘Marvel’s Luke Cage’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Netflix)A scene from ‘Marvel’s Luke Cage’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Ryan Eggold as Dr. Max Goodwin in ‘New Amsterdam’ (Photo by Francisco Roman / NBC)
NBC’s given a series order to New Amsterdam, a medical drama set to star Ryan Eggold. Eggold previously starred in the network’s The Blacklist and its spinoff, The Blacklist: Redemption, which was canceled after one season.
In addition to Ryan Eggold, the cast of New Amsterdam includes Janet Montgomery (Salem, This Is Us), Tyler Labine (Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency), Jocko Sims (The Last Ship, Masters of Sex), Freema Agyeman (Sense8, The Carrie Diaries), and J Anupam Kher (The Indian Detective).
New Amsterdam has David Schulner on board as writer and executive producer. Schulner’s series writing credits include Emerald City, Do No Harm, The Event, and Trauma. Kate Dennis is confirmed to direct and executive produce the pilot. Dennis has directed episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mindy Project, Sleepy Hollow, Secrets & Lies, and The Secret Life of Us.
The medical drama has Peter Horton (Grey’s Anatomy, Six Degrees) attached as an executive producer, with Dr. Eric Manheimer producing. Manheimer wrote the memoir Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital and served as the Chief Medical Director at Bellevue Hospital and Medical Center for 15 years.
NBC has not announced when the series will be added to their primetime lineup. New Amsterdam‘s a Universal Television, Pico Creek Productions and Mount Moriah production.
The Plot: Inspired by Bellevue, the oldest public hospital in America, this unique medical drama follows the brilliant and charming Dr. Max Goodwin (Eggold), the institution’s newest medical director who sets out to tear up the bureaucracy and provide exceptional care. How can he help? Well, the doctors and staff have heard this before. Not taking “no” for an answer, Dr. Goodwin must disrupt the status quo and prove he will stop at nothing to breathe new life into this understaffed, underfunded and underappreciated hospital — the only one in the world capable of treating Ebola patients, prisoners from Rikers and the President of the United States under one roof — and return it to the glory that put it on the map.
