Apple Original Films unveiled the official trailer for Echo Valley, and just a heads-up, it seems a little spoilery. The trailer teases a murder and subsequent cover-up, with Euphoria‘s Sydney Sweeney starring as the possible killer and Oscar winner Julianne Moore as her protective mom.
Domhnall Gleeson, Fiona Shaw, Edmund Donovan, Albert Jones, and Kyle MacLachlan also star. BAFTA winner Michael Pearce (Beast) directs, and two-time Emmy nominee Brad Ingelsby (Mare of Easttown) wrote the screenplay.
“In the edge-of-your-seat thriller Echo Valley, Kate (Moore) is a mother struggling to make peace with her troubled daughter Claire (Sweeney)—a situation that becomes even more perilous when Claire shows up on Kate’s doorstep, hysterical and covered in someone else’s blood,” reads Apple Original Films’ synopsis. “As Kate pieces together the shocking truth of what happened, she learns just how far a mother will go to try to save her child in this gripping tale of love, sacrifice, and survival.”
Scott Free Films’ Ridley Scott and Michael Pruss serve as producers along with Kevin J. Walsh and Brad Ingelsby. Executive producers include Ted Deiker, Scott Greenberg, Erika Olde, Sam Roseme, Nicole Jordan-Webber, and Rebecca Feuer.
Echo Valley premieres on Apple TV+ on June 13, 2025.
Poster for ‘Echo Valley’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
Frendo the Clown in ‘CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD’ (Photo Courtesy of RLJE Films & Shudder)
You’ve heard of Snakes on a Plane. You’ve heard of Flowers in the Attic. You’ve even heard of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Now, get ready for Clown in a Cornfield.
And, surprisingly, it’s not just a mashup of IT and Children of the Corn.
Clown in a Cornfield is about a teenage girl named Quinn (Katie Douglas from Pretty Hard Cases) who, along with her father (Hannibal’s Aaron Abrams), moves to a small town called Kettle Springs for a fresh start after her mother passes away. She meets a new group of friends, and despite being warned about them being “the wrong crowd,” she enjoys hanging out with them, doing teenage things like partying and making viral videos. Unfortunately, Kettle Springs has a dark secret built around the torched Baypen Corn Syrup factory that fed the town’s whole economy, and soon enough, Quinn and her friends find themselves being stalked by the brand’s creepy clown mascot, Frendo.
Directed by Eli Craig (Tucker and Dale vs. Evil) from a script written by Carter Blanchard (Independence Day: Resurgence) and Adam Cesare (Ghost Game), Clown in a Cornfield is both exactly what it seems and not at all what it seems. Of course, it’s about a clown in a cornfield. But there is also more to it than that. It’s about a town’s decay and decline, and about how the symbol of its past comes back to haunt them. But that symbol is a killer clown, so things get bloody very fast.
At its root, Clown in a Cornfield is a slasher movie, with all the effective and inventive kills that come with it. And although Eli Craig didn’t put as much inherent humor into it as he put into Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, there’s still plenty of gory fun. The practical visual effects are decent, and the splatter flows freely. With the exception of Quinn, most of the characters are faceless and exist purely as cannon fodder for the killer. And all clowns are scary, Frendo being no exception.
But Clown in a Cornfield also attempts to be a mystery of sorts, and in the beginning, it works. The audience can’t help but engage with the story and wonder what the deal with the Killer Clowns from Outer Space-meets-Terrifier murderer is. And there are plenty of surprises and twists along the way, red herrings and false flags and all that good stuff. However, ultimately, the mystery doesn’t have a satisfying solution. It’s a conclusion that the setup telegraphs from a mile away, so at that point, Clown in a Cornfield becomes just another slasher movie.
And then, there’s the social theme. Kettle Springs is a town that is in disarray after the big fire that destroyed the main employer of its residents, so the adults try to make ends meet while the kids alternate between pulling pranks and dreaming about getting out. And there’s the big rift—the old people wanting to toe the line and the young people wanting to break free from it. Both are angry and resentful, but for very different reasons. Experience vs. Youth. It’s a tale as old as time. Ain’t that America?
So, Clown in a Cornfield isn’t as corny of a movie as it sounds. But it’s still not exactly good. It kind of has that Asylum Films feel to it, low-budget fun without any real substance. Except it does have a bit of substance. Just not enough to make people think too hard about it. It’s an admirable try, but it isn’t completely successful. It doesn’t completely fail, either. It’s just…there. In the cornfield. Clowning.
GRADE: C
Rating: R for teen drinking, language throughout, and bloody horror violence
Release Date: May 9, 2025
Running Time: 1 hour 36 minutes
Distributor: RLJE Films / Shudder
CBS’s SWAT season eight episode 20 welcomes back former series star Alex Russell, but not as Jim Street. Russell returns to direct episode 20, “Devil Dog,” airing on Friday, May 9, 2025 at 9pm ET/PT.
“Devil Dog” Plot: When Hondo’s ne’er-do-well cousin, Andre, goes AWOL from his Marine base during basic training, Hondo, Deacon, and Daniel Sr. take a road trip to get the kid in line. But when they learn that Andre witnessed an illegal arms deal involving stolen military weapons, Hondo realizes there’s a darker explanation for Andre’s disappearance. And Alfaro plots to work outside the law when he discovers that his mother’s long-ago abusive ex is back in her life, repeating the violent ways of the past.
Season eight stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, David Lim as Victor Tan, Patrick St. Esprit as Commander Robert Hicks, and Anna Enger Ritch as Zoe Powell. Annie Ilonzeh is Devin Gamble and Niko Pepaj plays Miguel “Miko” Alfaro.
S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as a former Marine and locally born and raised SWAT sergeant tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson strives to bridge the divide between his two worlds.
Committed to the job, Hondo is equally devoted to his marriage and fatherhood. The other members of Hondo’s elite S.W.A.T. unit include David “Deacon” Kay, an experienced S.W.A.T. officer and dedicated family man who always puts the team first; Victor Tan, who started in the LAPD Hollywood Division and uses his confidential informants in the community to help the team; Zoe Powell, a tough and loyal team member trying to reconnect with the son she gave up for adoption as a teen; and Miguel “Miko” Alfaro, a headstrong officer who overcame a troubled childhood, and is now a trusted 20-Squad addition following a rocky transfer to Los Angeles S.W.A.T.
Responsible for the management of all Metro Division S.W.A.T. units is Commander Robert Hicks, a senior LAPD official with the Special Operations Bureau. With Hondo leading the charge, these dedicated men and women bravely put themselves at risk to protect their community and save lives.
Apple TV+ is keeping The Studio open for a second season. The renewal announcement came just ahead of season one’s eighth episode debuting on May 7, 2025 and featuring guest star Zoë Kravitz.
“We’re thrilled to be making a second season of The Studio. We’re looking forward to taking the lived experience of making season one and immediately putting it into season two, then repeating that loop for ten more seasons,” stated co-creators, writers, directors, and executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. “And we’re excited to keep all our industry friends and colleagues guessing as to when one of their personal stories will stream on Apple TV+.”
Rogen also stars in the comedy along with Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, and Chase Sui Wonders. Season one’s guest stars include Ron Howard, Zac Efron, Dave Franco, Anthony Mackie, Olivia Wilde, Bryan Cranston, Josh Hutcherson, Rebecca Hall, and Paul Dano.
Ike Barinholtz, Kathryn Hahn and Seth Rogen in ‘The Studio’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
“Seth, Evan, the entire creative team, and cast of The Studio have knocked it out of the park with this brilliant show, and it has been incredible to watch the conversation grow with each new episode,” said Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+. “We can’t wait to see where Matt Remick takes Continental Studios in season two and hope for his sake that the ‘Kool-Aid’ movie crushes at the box office.”
Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, and Frida Perez also co-created the series and serve as executive producers along with Rogen, Goldberg, James Weaver, Alex McAtee, and Josh Fagen.
“In The Studio, Rogen stars as Matt Remick, the newly appointed head of embattled Continental Studios. As movies struggle to stay alive and relevant, Matt and his core team of infighting executives battle their insecurities as they wrangle narcissistic artists and craven corporate overlords in the ever-elusive pursuit of making great films,” reads Apple TV+’s synopsis. “With their power suits masking their never-ending sense of panic, every party, set visit, casting decision, marketing meeting, and award show presents them with an opportunity for glittering success or career-ending catastrophe. As someone who eats, sleeps, and breathes movies, it’s the job Matt’s been pursuing his whole life, and it may very well destroy him.”
The How to Train Your Dragon IMAX trailer shows more of Hiccup and Toothless in the air and engulfed in flames. Dialogue is mostly unnecessary, and the trailer focuses on the Viking and dragon getting to know each other.
The live-action adaptation of the blockbuster animated film stars Mason Thames (The Black Phone) as Hiccup, Gerard Butler from the animated films as Chief Stoick the Vast, Nico Parker (Suncoast) as Astrid, and Nick Frost (Skeleton Crew) as Gobber. Julian Dennison (Deadpool 2), Gabriel Howell (Bodies), Bronwyn James (Wicked), Harry Trevaldwyn (Smothered), Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club), Peter Serafinowicz (Guardians of the Galaxy), and Murray McArthur (Game of Thrones) also star.
“On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Thames) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Butler), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society,” reads Universal Pictures’ synopsis. “With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (Parker) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Frost) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.
As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.”
The original film’s writer and director Dean DeBlois returns for the live-action adaptation. Producers include DeBlois, Marc Platt, and Adam Siegel.
How to Train Your Dragon opens in theaters on June 13, 2025.
Casting finishes up on ‘A Man on the Inside’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Netflix)
Ted Danson and season two newbie (and Danson’s spouse) Mary Steenbergen will have plenty of company on the upcoming season of Netflix’s A Man on the Inside. The streamer just announced the final key players are in place and provided teasing tidbits on who they’ll be playing.
Season one was set in a retirement home, and season two will take the action to a college campus where Charles will be hanging out undercover. Steenbergen is on board as Mona Margadoff, “a former musician who factors heavily in the case Charles is trying to solve.”
A Man on the Inside Season 2 New Cast and Characters
Constance Marie (George Lopez) as “Vanessa” – a former con-artist, serves as a part-time-source on the criminal underworld for Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada).
David Strathairn (The Bourne Legacy) as “Dr. Cole” – Head of the English Department at Wheeler College, and the most famous and popular professor on campus.
Gary Cole (Veep) as “Brad Vinick” – a successful businessman whose sizable donation to his alma mater starts a chain reaction that leads to Charles getting hired.
Jason Mantzoukas (Taskmaster) as “Apollo Lambrakis” – an affable contractor who dreams of writing the Great American Novel.
Jill Talley (Spongebob Squarepants) as “Holly Bodgemark” – is the overworked, perpetually-frazzled Provost of Wheeler College.
Linda Park (For All Mankind) as “Elizabeth Muki” – the director of the Fine Arts Department at Wheeler College.
Lisa Gilroy (Interior Chinatown) as “Kelseigh Rose” – a budding photographer, is the new wife of billionaire Brad Vinick.
Madison Hu (The Brothers Sun as “Claire” – Wheeler College Junior who works multiple campus jobs to pay for her tuition.
Max Greenfield (The Neighborhood) as “Jack Beringer” – the charismatic President of Wheeler College, whose job requires him to raise money from wealthy graduates.
Michaela Conlin (For All Mankind) as “Andrea Yi” – teaches economics at Wheeler College, and is excited about the changes coming to the school.
Sam Huntington (Being Human) as “Max Griffin” – a rabble-rousing professor of journalism at Wheeler College.
Mike Schur created the series, based on the 2021 Oscar nominated documentary The Mole Agent. Schur, Morgan Sackett, David Miner, Maite Alberdi, Marcela Santibañez, Julie Goldman, and Christopher Clements serve as executive producers.
Life goes on after Bobby’s tragic death, and on ABC’s 9-1-1 season eight episode 17, things are back to their everyday normal/crazy level. Bobby’s death means the hunt for a new captain is on, and the teaser for episode 17 shows who Athena’s throwing her support behind. Episode 17, “Don’t Drink the Water,” will air on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 8pm ET/PT.
Speaking with TVInsider, showrunner Tim Minear confirmed the answer to who’s taking over will not be revealed during the remaining episodes of season eight. “I’m not solving that problem right away for the rest of this season. There is an interim captain there who is not going to be the captain going forward, but the last three episodes are not about who’s in Bobby’s chair,” stated Minear. “The last three episodes are about that chair is empty.”
“Don’t Drink the Water” Plot: Following an earthquake, the 118 races to the scene of several unusual fires and must figure out their cause before anyone else is hurt. Meanwhile, as everyone settles into their new normal, they try to move forward and plan for the future. Guest stars include Brian Thompson, Jenna Z. Alvarez, and Phoebe Neidhardt.
The season eight cast includes Angela Bassett as Athena Grant-Nash, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie Han, and Oliver Stark as Evan “Buck” Buckley. Kenneth Choi plays Howie “Chimney” Han, Aisha Hinds stars as Henrietta “Hen” Wilson, Ryan Guzman is Eddie Diaz, and Gavin McHugh is Christopher Diaz.
Angela Bassett in ‘9-1-1’ season 8 episode 17 (Disney/Ray Mickshaw)
9-1-1 Synopsis, Courtesy of ABC:
The series explores the high-pressure experiences of first responders — including police officers, firefighters, and dispatchers—who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking, and heart-stopping conditions. These emergency responders must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in their own lives.
The show draws from the real lives of first responders who regularly face situations that are often unpredictable, intense, and uplifting at the same time.
Kenneth Choi, Phoebe Neidhardt, Jenna Z. Alvarez, Aisha Hinds and Oliver Stark in season 8 episode 17 (Disney/Christopher Willard)Ryan Guzman in season 8 episode 17 (Disney/Christopher Willard)Kenneth Choi and Jennifer Love Hewitt in season 8 episode 17 (Disney/Christopher Willard)Tracie Thoms and Angela Bassett in season 8 episode 17 (Disney/Christopher Willard)Brian Thompson and Oliver Stark in season 8 episode 17 (Disney/Christopher Willard)Phoebe Neidhardt, Kenneth Choi, Aisha Hinds, Oliver Stark, and Jenna Z Alvarez in season 8 episode 17 (Disney/Christopher Willard)
Brandy and Rita Ora return for Descendants: Wicked Wonderland (Photo Credits: Tony Bowen, Ed Cooke, courtesy of Disney Channel)
Today, Disney Branded Television announced the official title for the fifth film of the Descendants franchise. Descendants 5 will now officially be known as Descendants: Wicked Wonderland.
The title announcement also included confirmation that Brandy will reprise her role as Cinderella and Rita Ora will return as the Queen of Hearts. Filming is currently underway, with the fifth installment of the franchise targeting a 2026 premiere on Disney+ and Disney Channel.
“Descendants: Wicked Wonderland explores what ‘happily ever after’ really means for Red (Kylie Cantrall) and Chloe (Malia Baker) following their time-traveling adventures in the 2024 hit film Descendants: The Rise of Red,” reads Disney Channel’s synopsis. “Set primarily in present-day Wonderland with a host of new and familiar characters, this sequel delves into the warning at the end of the previous movie: There are consequences when you alter the fabric of time.”
The full Descendants: Wicked Wonderland cast list:
• Kylie Cantrall as the Queen of Hearts’ daughter Red
• Malia Baker as Cinderella’s daughter Chloe
• Liamani Segura as Red’s sister Pink
• Brendon Tremblay as Maddox Hatter’s son Max
• Alexandro Byrd as Luisa Madrigal’s son Luis
• Kiara Romero as Captain Hook’s daughter Hazel Hook
• Joel Oulette as Robin Hood’s son Robbie
• Zavien Garret as Dr. Facilier’s son Felix
• Ryan McEwen and Dayton Paradis as the Smee Twins, Squirmy and Squeaky
• Leonardo Nam as the Mad Hatter’s son Maddox
• Melanie Paxson as Fairy Godmother
• Paolo Montalban as King Charming
• Brandy as Cinderella
• Rita Ora as the Queen of Hearts
The fifth film of the franchise is directed by Kimmy Gatewood (Muppets Mayhem), and Dan Frey, Ru Sommer, and co-executive producer Tamara Chestna are the writers. Executive producers include Suzanne Todd and Gary Marsh. Emmy winner Emilio Dosal (Wicked, Sneakerella) is the film’s choreographer.
The original musical, directed by Kenny Ortega and starring Dove Cameron and Cameron Boyce, premiered on the Disney Channel back in July 2015. Its three sequels went on to become the most watched cable movies of their years.
Apple TV+’s Trying, starring Rafe Spall and Esther Smith, is confirmed to return for a fifth season. The streamer announced the popular comedy has been renewed but did not say when production will start. Apple TV+ also didn’t set a target premiere date. All but season three of the series debuted in May.
BAFTA nominee Esther Smith (Cuckoo) stars as Nikki, SAG Award nominee Rafe Spall (The Big Short) plays Jason, and Charlotte Riley (The Peripheral) is Kat. The cast also includes BAFTA Award winner Darren Boyd (The Outlaws) as Scott, Sian Brooke (Good Omens) as Karen, Scarlett Rayner (Silverpoint) as Princess, and Cooper Turner as Tyler.
“Season five finds Nikki (Smith) and Jason (Spall) dealing with the consequences of Princess and Tyler’s biological mother, Kat (Charlotte Riley), turning up at their doorstep and the whirlwind of chaos she brings into their settled family life,” reads Apple TV+’s synopsis.
Andy Wolton created the comedy series and serves as writer and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Chris Sussman and BAFTA Award nominees Josh Cole and Sam Pinell. Trying sits at 95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
The first teaser for Netflix’s Squid Game season three shows Gi-hun (Player 456) being carried into the hall in one of the game’s coffins, and the remaining players are shocked at his return. The minute-and-a-half teaser also introduces a new twist in which players must select either a red or blue ball and a warning that “it’s time to play the game one last time.”
The third and final season will premiere on June 27, 2025. Returning stars include Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun/Player 456, Lee Byung-hun as Front Man, Wi Ha-jun as Hwang Jun-ho, Yim Si-wan as Myung-gi/Player 333, Kang Ha-neul as Dae-ho/Player 388, Park Sung-hoon as Hyun-ju/Player 120, Yang Dong-geun as Yong-sik/Player 007, and Kang Ae-sim as Geum-ja/Player 149. Jo Yuri plays Jun-hee/Player 222, Lee David is Min-su/Player 125, Roh Jae-won is Nam-gyu/Player 124, and Park Gyu-young is No-eul.
Hwang Dong-hyuk created the series and serves as writer, director, and executive producer.
“The third and final season of Squid Game follows Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) after losing his best friend in the game and being driven to utter despair by The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who was hiding his true identity to infiltrate the game,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “Gi-hun persists with his goal to put an end to the game, while the Front Man continues onto his next move and the surviving players’ choices will lead to graver consequences with each round.”
Season two premiered in December 2024 and set a new record for the “most views for a show in its premiere week,” according to Netflix. The streamer also reports the award-winning series’ second season is the third most-watched season on Netflix of all time. Squid Game has won Emmys, Critics Choice, and Screen Actors Guild awards, as well as an Independent Spirit award.
