The Office‘s Jenna Fischer and Scream Queens‘ Oliver Hudson team up for ABC’s new comedy series, Splitting Up Together. The dysfunctional relationship comedy is based on the Danish series of the same name created by Mette Heeno, with Heeno serving as an executive producer on the American version. Ellen DeGeneres, Emily Kapnek, Jeff Kleeman, and Dean Holland also executive produce the half-hour comedy which will debut on March 27, 2018.
In addition to Jenna Fischer and Oliver Hudson, season one of Splitting Up Together stars Bobby Lee, Lindsay Price, Olivia Keville, Van Crosby, and Sander Thomas.
The Plot: Lena and Martin were once madly in love. But, like many marriages, time and circumstance eventually took their toll. Lena, the perfectionist, fell into the role of caretaker for everyone, including Martin. Martin felt he could never do anything right and gave up making the effort. This created a romantic rift between them. Finding themselves in a platonic marriage and acting more like a pair of camp counselors wrangling their kids than a couple hopelessly in love, they decide that everyone’s lives would be better served if they got a divorce.
Still wanting the best for their three kids and facing a daunting real estate market, the couple decide not to sell their house and to “Bird Nest” instead. One parent will live in the house as the “on-duty” parent taking care of the kids, while the “off-duty” parent will live in the detached garage, doing whatever he or she pleases. They will switch off every other week.
Their kids, 7-year-old Milo (Sander Thomas), 14-year-old pre-pubescent Mason (Van Crosby) and 15-year-old feminist Mae (Olivia Keville), seem to be taking the divorce in stride. While Lena, the consummate caretaker, has to learn to loosen her reigns, Martin, who has always taken a backseat when it comes to parenting, needs to learn how to step up his game.
Then there are Lena and Martin’s married friends, Camille (Lindsay Price) and Arthur (Bobby Lee). Camille, stunning and way out of Arthur’s league, is sad to lose their best couple friends. Arthur, aware he married up, begins to question the stability of his own marriage when his friends’ falls apart. And Lena’s sister, Maya (Diane Farr), a serial dater who often gets in her own way due to her terrible taste in men, thinks that her sister is too rigid and needs to chill out if she’s ever going start dating again.
As Lena begins to dip her toes into the dating waters, Martin begins to see his own culpability in his marriage falling apart. When Martin realizes that it all began when he refused to dance with Lena at their wedding, he wants to atone for it. He secretly takes dance lessons to surprise Lena by dancing with her on what would be their upcoming wedding anniversary. Could being apart ultimately lead to them getting back together?
Jenna Fischer and Oliver Hudson star in ‘Splitting Up Together’ (ABC/Eric McCandless)Bobby Lee and Lindsay Price in ‘Splitting Up Together (ABC/Eric McCandless)Diane Farr in ‘Splitting Up Together’ (ABC/Eric McCandless)Jenna Fischer and Oliver Hudson (ABC/Eric McCandless)Diane Farr, Geoff Pierson, Bobby Lee, and Lindsay Price (ABC/Eric McCandless)Van Crosby and Olivia Keville in ‘Splitting Up Together’ (ABC/Ron Tom)
Asher Angel, Sofia Wylie, Joshua Rush, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Lilan Bowden, Lauren Tom, and Stoney Westmoreland in ‘Andi Mack’ (Disney Channel / Craig Sjodin)
Disney Channel has renewed the coming of age series Andi Mack for a third season. The show debuted on Disney Channel in April 2017 and has reached more than 40 million total viewers. It also ranks in the top 10 among shows for kids, according to Disney Channel.
The cast features Peyton Elizabeth Lee as Andi Mack, Lilan Bowden as Bex Mack, Lauren Tom as Celia Mack, Joshua Rush as Cyrus Goodman, Sofia Wylie as Buffy Driscoll and Asher Angel as Jonah Beck. Guest stars include Trent Garrett as Bowie Quinn, Stoney Westmoreland as Henry “HAM” Mack, Emily Skinner as Amber, Luke Mullen as T.J., and Darius Marcell as Walker.
Terri Minsky (Lizzie McGuire) created Andi Mack and executive produces. Michelle Manning (The Breakfast Club, Disney Channel’s Adventures in Babysitting) also serves as an executive producer.
“A series about a girl discovering that her sister is really her mother was new territory for Disney Channel, but Terri’s honest, authentic storytelling allowed our audience to connect deeply to these characters and their journeys of self-discovery,” said Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide. “What she has crafted stands as a high-water benchmark for kids and family storytelling around the world.”
Filming on season three will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Plot: In season one, Andi and her loving yet overprotective parents (now known to be her grandparents), Celia and “HAM,” must learn to adjust to having Bex home. Andi, with Bex’s encouragement, begins to step outside her comfort zone, particularly when it comes to approaching the most intriguing guy at Jefferson Middle School – Jonah Beck, whom she quickly realizes is dating a high school girl, Amber. Then Andi’s father Bowie arrives to meet the daughter he never knew existed, and Andi dives headfirst into pursuing her picture-perfect happy ending.
In season two, Andi is anchored by her loving albeit complicated family. She’s also in a trio with Cyrus and Buffy – her smart, supportive friends who are figuring out the most useful “hacks” to their young teen lives, too. Then suddenly, there’s all-new territory for Andi to navigate – the possibility that Jonah Beck might like her, too. Andi proves her greatest strength may lie in her ability to approach life’s unpredictability with optimism. She also finds solace by tapping into her creativity in her backyard hideaway, the Andi Shack.
Jasmine Mathews, Brendan Scannell, Melanie Field, Grace Victoria Cox, and James Scully star in ‘Heathers’ (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
1989’s Heathers earned three Independent Spirit Awards nominations (winning one) and a Sundance Film Festival nomination, but it didn’t exactly set the box office on fire when it debuted on March 31, 1989. A very limited theatrical release raked in $1.1 million domestically before the film exited theaters. However thanks to home video, Heathers has reached cult classic status.
Heathers was directed by Michael Lehman from a script by Daniel Waters and starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. The dark comedy’s set in an Ohio high school and follows the Heathers – the most popular girls in school – as one of their own begins to realize she no longer wants to be part of this exclusive clique.
Paramount Network’s set to launch a new version of Heathers with the March 7, 2018 premiere of a series inspired by the ’80s comedy. Season one of Heathers stars Grace Victoria Cox (Under the Dome) as Veronica Sawyer, James Scully as JD, Melanie Field (Wicked) as Heather Chandler, Brendan Scannell as Heather Duke, and Jasmine Mathews as Heather McNamara.
Heathers fans can expect to see one of the stars of the original film, Shannen Doherty, show up as a guest star in a few episodes.
The series comes from writer, executive producer, and showrunner Jason Micallef (Butter), with Lesley Headland executive producing and directing multiple episodes. Gary Lucchesi and Brad Gardener also serve as executive producers.
The Plot: Set in the present day, “good girl” Veronica Sawyer (Cox) deals with a very different but equally vicious group of ‘Heathers.’ Heather Chandler (Field) is the unconventional leader of this popular high school clique and rules Westerburg High through fear, intimidation and amazing fashion sense.
Heather Duke (Scannell) is Heather C’s #1 sidekick and harnesses the Heather’s power to destroy whoever he views as a total discount hobgoblin. Heather McNamara (Mathews) is considered the nicest Heather in the group who lives in the shadow of the others. She’s hiding a dark secret that she doesn’t want to be exposed. JD Dean (Scully) is the new boy in town with a dark side and sets out on a reckless path of destruction proving that no one, even his girlfriend Veronica is safe.
Edited on February 28, 2018. Statement by Paramount Network: “Paramount Network’s original series Heathers is a satirical comedy that takes creative risks in dealing with many of society’s most challenging subjects ranging from personal identity to race and socio-economic status to gun violence. While we stand firmly behind the show, in light of the recent tragic events in Florida and out of respect for the victims, their families and loved ones, we feel the right thing to do is delay the premiere until later this year.”
Edited on June 1, 2018: Paramount Network has decided not to move forward with Heathers. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter Paramount Network’s President of Development and Production Keith Cox said, “This is a high school show, we’re blowing up the school, there are guns in the school, it’s a satire and there are moments of teachers having guns. It’s hitting on so many hot topics. This company can’t be speaking out of both sides of its mouth, saying the youth movement is important for us and we’ve done all these wonderful things to support that and at the same time, we’re putting on a show that we’re not comfortable with.”
Jasmine Mathews and Brendan Scannell fashionably mourn the loss of their best friend Heather Chandler in ‘Heathers’ (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)Veronica (Grace Victoria Cox) and JD (James Scully) think they’ve killed the lead Heather (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)Jasmine Mathews as Heather McNamara, the Heather who is keeping a big secret she’s terrified of getting out (Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures)James Scully portrays JD, the new boy in town with a twisted past. (Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures)Grace Victoria Cox stars as Veronica Sawyer. (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)Brendan Scannell portrays Heather Duke in ‘Heathers’ (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)Melanie Field portrays Heather Chandler, the leader of the the Heathers (Photo Credit: Paramount Network)
The CW’s iZombie season four takes place in a world in which Seattle’s been walled off and is a zombie haven. At the end of season three, Major Lilywhite (Robert Buckley) transformed into a zombie again to help out Fillmore-Graves. In season four, Major will be mentoring young zombies as Seattle settles into this new reality.
Season four will premiere on February 26, 2018 with Buckley, Rose McIver, Rahul Kohli, Aly Michalka, and David Anders back in starring roles.
During the 2017 San Diego Comic Con, Robert Buckley provided a brief sneak peek at what’s going on with Major as season four begins. The world has changed forever with the reveal of zombies, so how will that affect Major moving forward? “That’s a tough question to answer because they have really sort of hit reset,” explained Buckley. “It’s a whole new world we’re going into in season four. I mean, it’s three months after we left season three and now the zombies are out. That’s well known. Seattle is now walled off. There was a mass exodus of people out. There’s not enough brains for the zombies there so they’re very tense, pissed off, and hungry. The humans aren’t trusting the zombies and the zombies aren’t trusting the humans. I think it’s a very volatile situation.”
Buckley added, “I think we’re going to find Major firmly committed to Fillmore-Graves and their cause, but how that would affect his relationship with Liv and the others – or people in general – is not certain yet.”
Given the fact Major’s so committed to the company at this point, Buckley’s not sure what Major’s reaction would be if he was offered a cure and had the ability to be human again. ““Boy, I don’t know. It depends. I don’t know what’s left for him there,” said Buckley.
“My gut would be, ‘Yeah, of course.’ I feel like he’s always wanted to be a human but, in this case, it was sort of like I think it was such an awful thing to happen and I think to Major, he is someone who has such a strong moral compass. I think he just realized what happened was absolutely awful and wrong. ‘What can I do to fix it besides forfeit my humanity, my self to this cause?’ So, I think until at least he feels like he’s kind of completed that mission or provided some justice for those people, I don’t think so.”
The CW’s Supernatural season 13 episode 14 welcomes back a beloved character from the Supernatural world. Jim Beaver will be guest starring, reprising his role as Bobby Singer. Episode 14 is titled “Good Intentions” and is set to air on March 1, 2018. PJ Pesce directs from a script by Meredith Glynn.
Episode 14 will mark Jim Beaver’s first appearance in season 13. His character (a fan favorite) was killed off in season seven’s 10th episode (“Death’s Door”), but returned in later seasons to help out the Winchesters.
The season 13 cast includes Jensen Ackles as Dean, Jared Padalecki as Sam, Misha Collins as Castiel, Mark Pellegrino as Lucifer, Alexander Calvert as Jack, and Samantha Smith as Mary Winchester.
The “Good Intentions” Plot: JIM BEAVER GUEST STARS AS BOBBY SINGER – Jack (Calvert) and Mary (Smith) manage to escape Michael’s (guest star Christian Keyes) clutches and end up finding an ally in “apocalyptic world” Bobby Singer (guest star Jim Beaver). Meanwhile, Sam (Padalecki), Dean (Ackles) and Castiel (Collins) continue to search for a way to open a breach, not realizing that one of their own may be working against them and costing them precious time.
The Season 13 Plot: The exciting journey of the Winchester brothers continues as Supernatural enters its thirteenth season. Sam and Dean have encountered every kind of supernatural threat, facing down monsters, demons, and gods. Saving people, hunting things, and keeping the world safe. In the show’s twelfth season, the Winchesters were reunited with their long-dead mother, and joined forces with the British arm of the Men of Letters. But things turned from bad to worse, with the return of Lucifer and the surprising revelation that the Devil is expecting a child. Now, Sam and Dean find themselves facing a creature of almost unimaginable power… one that could save the world… or destroy it.
The BAFTA Awards voters threw their support behind Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, handing the drama five wins including Best Film, Outstanding British Film, Leading Actress (Frances McDormand), Supporting Actor (Sam Rockwell), and Original Screenplay. Guillermo del Toro’s romantic fantasy The Shape of Water went into the awards show with the most nominations at 12, but had to settle for just one win in the Director category.
Eight-time nominee Blade Runner 2049 took home two wins in the Cinematography (Roger Deakins) and Special Visual Effects (Gerd Nefzer, John Nelson) categories. Also earning one win after going into the night with multiple nominations were Get Out (Rising Star Daniel Kaluuya) and Dunkirk (Special Visual Effects).
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ EE British Academy Film Awards were held on Sunday, February 18, 2018 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Joanna Lumley was this year’s host of the awards, which are the British equivalent of the American Academy Awards.
2018 BAFTA AWARDS NOMINEES AND WINNERS:
BEST FILM
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME Emilie Georges, Luca Guadagnino, Marco Morabito, Peter Spears
DARKEST HOUR Tim Bevan, Lisa Bruce, Eric Fellner, Anthony McCarten, Douglas Urbanski
DUNKIRK Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas
THE SHAPE OF WATER Guillermo del Toro, J. Miles Dale WINNER: THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Martin McDonagh
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
DARKEST HOUR Joe Wright, Tim Bevan, Lisa Bruce, Eric Fellner, Anthony McCarten, Douglas Urbanski
THE DEATH OF STALIN Armando Iannucci, Kevin Loader, Laurent Zeitoun, Yann Zenou, Ian Martin, David Schneider
GOD’S OWN COUNTRY Francis Lee, Manon Ardisson, Jack Tarling
LADY MACBETH William Oldroyd, Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly, Alice Birch
PADDINGTON 2 Paul King, David Heyman, Simon Farnaby WINNER: THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI Martin McDonagh, Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
THE GHOUL Gareth Tunley (Writer/Director/Producer), Jack Healy Guttman & Tom Meeten (Producers) WINNER: I AM NOT A WITCH Rungano Nyoni (Writer/Director), Emily Morgan (Producer)
JAWBONE Johnny Harris (Writer/Producer), Thomas Napper (Director)
KINGDOM OF US Lucy Cohen (Director)
LADY MACBETH Alice Birch (Writer), William Oldroyd (Director), Fodhla Cronin O’Reilly (Producer)
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
ELLE Paul Verhoeven, Saïd Ben Saïd
FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER Angelina Jolie, Rithy Panh WINNER: THE HANDMAIDEN Park Chan-wook, Syd Lim
LOVELESS Andrey Zvyagintsev, Alexander Rodnyansky
THE SALESMAN Asghar Farhadi, Alexandre Mallet-Guy
DOCUMENTARY
CITY OF GHOSTS Matthew Heineman WINNER: I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO Raoul Peck
ICARUS Bryan Fogel, Dan Cogan
AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk
JANE Brett Morgen
ANIMATED FILM WINNER: COCO Lee Unkrich, Darla K. Anderson
LOVING VINCENT Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman, Ivan Mactaggart
MY LIFE AS A COURGETTE Claude Barras, Max Karli
DIRECTOR
BLADE RUNNER 2049 Denis Villeneuve
CALL ME BY YOUR NAME Luca Guadagnino
DUNKIRK Christopher Nolan WINNER: THE SHAPE OF WATER Guillermo del Toro
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI Martin McDonagh
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
GET OUT Jordan Peele
I, TONYA Steven Rogers
LADY BIRD Greta Gerwig
THE SHAPE OF WATER Guillermo del Toro, Vanessa Taylor WINNER: THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI Martin McDonagh
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY WINNER: CALL ME BY YOUR NAME James Ivory
THE DEATH OF STALIN Armando Iannucci, Ian Martin, David Schneider
FILM STARS DON’T DIE IN LIVERPOOL Matt Greenhalgh
MOLLY’S GAME Aaron Sorkin
PADDINGTON 2 Simon Farnaby, Paul King
LEADING ACTRESS
ANNETTE BENING Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool WINNER: FRANCES McDORMAND Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
MARGOT ROBBIE I, Tonya
SALLY HAWKINS The Shape of Water
SAOIRSE RONAN Lady Bird
LEADING ACTOR
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS Phantom Thread
DANIEL KALUUYA Get Out WINNER: GARY OLDMAN Darkest Hour
JAMIE BELL Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET Call Me by Your Name
SUPPORTING ACTRESS WINNER: ALLISON JANNEY I, Tonya
KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS Darkest Hour
LAURIE METCALF Lady Bird
LESLEY MANVILLE Phantom Thread
OCTAVIA SPENCER The Shape of Water
SUPPORTING ACTOR
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER All the Money in the World
HUGH GRANT Paddington 2 WINNER: SAM ROCKWELL Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
WILLEM DAFOE The Florida Project
WOODY HARRELSON Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
ORIGINAL MUSIC
BLADE RUNNER 2049 Benjamin Wallfisch, Hans Zimmer
DARKEST HOUR Dario Marianelli
DUNKIRK Hans Zimmer
PHANTOM THREAD Jonny Greenwood WINNER: THE SHAPE OF WATER Alexandre Desplat
CINEMATOGRAPHY WINNER: BLADE RUNNER 2049 Roger Deakins
DARKEST HOUR Bruno Delbonnel
DUNKIRK Hoyte van Hoytema
THE SHAPE OF WATER Dan Laustsen
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI Ben Davis
EDITING WINNER: BABY DRIVER Jonathan Amos, Paul Machliss
BLADE RUNNER 2049 Joe Walker
DUNKIRK Lee Smith
THE SHAPE OF WATER Sidney Wolinsky
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI Jon Gregory
PRODUCTION DESIGN
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer
BLADE RUNNER 2049 Dennis Gassner, Alessandra Querzola
DARKEST HOUR Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer
DUNKIRK Nathan Crowley, Gary Fettis WINNER: THE SHAPE OF WATER Paul Austerberry, Jeff Melvin, Shane Vieau
COSTUME DESIGN
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Jacqueline Durran
DARKEST HOUR Jacqueline Durran
I, TONYA Jennifer Johnson WINNER: PHANTOM THREAD Mark Bridges
THE SHAPE OF WATER Luis Sequeira
MAKE UP & HAIR
BLADE RUNNER 2049 Donald Mowat, Kerry Warn WINNER: DARKEST HOUR David Malinowski, Ivana Primorac, Lucy Sibbick, Kazuhiro Tsuji
I, TONYA Deborah La Mia Denaver, Adruitha Lee
VICTORIA & ABDUL Daniel Phillips
WONDER Naomi Bakstad, Robert A. Pandini, Arjen Tuiten
SOUND
BABY DRIVER Tim Cavagin, Mary H. Ellis, Julian Slater
BLADE RUNNER 2049 Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill, Mark Mangini, Mac Ruth WINNER: DUNKIRK Richard King, Gregg Landaker, Gary A. Rizzo, Mark Weingarten
THE SHAPE OF WATER Christian Cooke, Glen Gauthier, Nathan Robitaille, Brad Zoern
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick, Stuart Wilson, Matthew Wood
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS WINNER: BLADE RUNNER 2049 Gerd Nefzer, John Nelson
DUNKIRK Scott Fisher, Andrew Jackson
THE SHAPE OF WATER Dennis Berardi, Trey Harrell, Kevin Scott
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Nominees tbc
WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES Nominees tbc
BRITISH SHORT ANIMATION
HAVE HEART Will Anderson
MAMOON Ben Steer WINNER: POLES APART Paloma Baeza, Ser En Low
BRITISH SHORT FILM
AAMIR Vika Evdokimenko, Emma Stone, Oliver Shuster WINNER: COWBOY DAVE Colin O’Toole, Jonas Mortensen
A DROWNING MAN Mahdi Fleifel, Signe Byrge Sørensen, Patrick Campbell
WORK Aneil Karia, Scott O’Donnell
WREN BOYS Harry Lighton, Sorcha Bacon, John Fitzpatrick
EE RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public) WINNER: DANIEL KALUUYA
FLORENCE PUGH
JOSH O’CONNOR
TESSA THOMPSON
TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET
ABC’s set to premiere the newest dramatic series from Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland in March. The legal drama comes from Shondaland’s Paul William Davies, with Rhimes, Betsy Beers, and Tom Verica executive producing.
The cast of the new drama includes Britt Robertson, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Ben Rappaport, Susannah Flood, Wesam Keesh, Regé-Jean Page, Ben Shenkman, Hope Davis, Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Anna Deavere Smith. ABC’s set a Tuesday, March 13, 2018 premiere date, and the network’s released new photos, a trailer, plot description and cast list for Shondaland’s latest primetime offering.
The For The People Plot: Set in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a.k.a. “The Mother Court”), the new Shondaland series show follows six talented young lawyers working on opposite sides of the law and handling the most high-profile and high-stakes federal cases in the country.
Best friends Sandra Bell (Britt Robertson) and Allison Adams (Jasmin Savoy Brown) serve as public defenders alongside Jay Simmons (Wesam Keesh) and their boss, Federal Public Defender Jill Carlan (Hope Davis). They face off against prosecutors Seth Oliver (Ben Rappaport), Leonard Knox (Regé-Jean Page), Kate Littlejohn (Susannah Flood) and their supervisor, chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Roger Gunn (Ben Shenkman). Our lawyers are joined by Judge Nicholas Byrne (Vondie Curtis-Hall), who rules on some of the court’s most controversial cases, and Tina Krissman (Anna Deavere Smith), the formidable clerk of Court who keeps everyone in line.
These young lawyers will be put to the test both personally and professionally as their lives intersect in and out of America’s most prestigious trial court.
Britt Robertson, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Wesam Keesh in ‘For the People’ (ABC/Nicole Wilder)Rege Jean Page, and Ben Shenkman in ‘For the People’ (ABC/Eric McCandless)Britt Robertson stars in ‘For the People’ (ABC/Nicole Wilder)Susannah Flood, Ben Rappaport, and Rege Jean Page (ABC/Eric McCandless)Jasmin Savoy Brown and Wesam Keesh (ABC/Nicole Wilder)Vondie Curtis-Hall in ‘For the People’ (ABC/Eric McCandless)Britt Robertson (ABC/Nicole Wilder)Hope Davis stars in ‘For the People’ (ABC/Eric McCandless)
Marvel and Disney’s Black Panther earned an outstanding 97% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes (282 fresh reviews and only nine rotten) and an A+ average score from audiences, according to Cinemascore. Both scores are rare for superhero films, but director Ryan Coogler and his Black Panther cast had many more reasons to celebrate over the film’s opening weekend. Early three-day weekend estimates have the film grossing $192 million domestically, and the four-day Presidents Day holiday numbers are expected to top $218 million.
Among the records Black Panther set were the highest opening box office take for an African-American director, the biggest February domestic opening in history, and the biggest President’s Day weekend opening. The 2018 superhero film also moved into second place on the Marvel opening weekend box office chart, with only The Avengers posting larger opening weekend numbers. Overall, Black Panther now holds fifth place on the biggest domestic opening weekend chart.
Black Panther trounced the weekend’s other new releases – Early Man and Samson – and should hold off all other competition for a couple of weeks. Competition next weekend will come from the sci-fi action film Annihilation, the comedy Game Night, and the romantic drama Every Day.
The Black Panther Plot:Black Panther follows T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who, after the events of Captain America: Civil War, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to take his place as King. However, when an old enemy reappears on the radar, T’Challa’s mettle as King and Black Panther is tested when he is drawn into a conflict that puts the entire fate of Wakanda and the world at risk.
Chadwick Boseman in Marvel Studios’ ‘Black Panther.’
Disney Channel’s revisiting the world of the kids of famous Disney villains with another chapter in the Descendants saga, Descendants 3. The announcement was made in a video featuring “Mal” (daughter of Maleficent) in which she reveals her father will be a new Descendants 3 villain.
Disney Channel confirmed the returning cast members will include Dove Cameron as Mal, Cameron Boyce as Carlos, Sofia Carson as Evie, Booboo Stewart as Jay, Mitchell Hope as King Ben, and China Anne McClain as Uma. (New cast members will be announced later.) Director Kenny Ortega (Descendants, the High School Musical films) is back on board as director, executive producer, and choreographer.
The behind the scenes team for Descendants 3 includes writers Sara Parriott and Josann McGibbon (The Starter Wife, Descendants, Descendants 2). Parriott and McGibbon also serve as executive producers. Kara Saun (Descendants, Descendants 2, Project Runway) returns as the costume designer, Mark Hofeling is back as production designer, and Descendants 2‘s Shawn Williamson is a producer.
Filming is expected to get underway in Vancouver this summer, with Disney Channel aiming for a 2019 premiere date.
“By adding a modern twist to Disney’s most treasured heritage properties, the world of Descendants has become an instant classic. We’re thrilled that the creative team that conceived and launched this global phenomenon is back to dive deeper into these characters and the imaginative world from which they come,” stated Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide.
According to Disney, Descendants 2 was watched by more than 71.5 million people. The Disney Channel reports music videos from both Descendants and Descendants 2 have been viewed an astounding 2 billion times, and the soundtrack to Descendants 2 hit the #1 spot on iTunes. It also made it into the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart.
A Look Back at Descendants 2: In Descendants 2, the story deepens as the Villain Kids (AKA “VKs”) – Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay – continue to try to find their place in idyllic Auradon. When the pressure to be royal becomes too much for Mal, she returns to her rotten roots on the Isle of the Lost where her archenemy Uma, the daughter of Ursula, has taken her spot as self-proclaimed queen of the run-down town. Uma, still resentful over not being selected by Ben to go to Auradon Prep with the other Villain Kids, stirs her pirate gang including Captain Hook’s son Harry and Gaston’s son Gil, to break the barrier between the Isle of the Lost and Auradon, and unleash all the villains imprisoned on the Isle, once and for all.
Fox’s popular dance competition series So You Think You Can Dance will be returning for season 15. Fox confirmed the series has been renewed for its 15th season and announced Vanessa Hudgens, Mary Murphy, and Nigel Lythgoe will be returning as judges. Emmy Award nominee Cat Deeley will be back to host the show.
According to Fox’s official announcement, So You Think You Can Dance season 15 will air this summer.
“I am always blown away by the sheer level of raw talent on this show,” stated Rob Wade, President, Alternative Entertainment and Specials, Fox Broadcasting Company. “These are real people – unknown stars in their own right. And each week, they tell compelling, emotional stories through their craft. We can’t wait for Nigel, Mary, Vanessa and Cat to hit the road once again and uncover the phenomenal talent that’s out there.”
“It’s incredible to make it to 15 seasons, which just speaks to the impact this program has had, not only on the world of dance, but also on our loyal fans and viewers, to whom we are most grateful,” said executive producer Nigel Lythgoe.
Through 14 seasons, So You Think You Can Dance has earned 59 Emmy Award nominations, winning 15 times. Choreographers Travis Wall, Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Wade Robson, and Napoleon & Tabitha Dumo have earned Emmys in the Outstanding Choreography category for their incredible routines created for the series.
Per Fox: “If selected, producers will reach out to schedule the contestant for an in-person audition in one of the two audition cities: New York or Los Angeles. Dancers must be no younger than 18 or older than 30 years of age. Dancers must provide legal, valid proof of age when they register for auditions.
During the audition rounds, the most talented dancers will compete in front of the judges for a coveted spot at ‘The Academy’ callback rounds in Los Angeles. At the end of ‘The Academy’ callback rounds, the judges will choose this season’s top dancers to move on in the competition. Those that are selected to move on to the SYTYCD studio will work with world-renowned choreographers and compete LIVE each week for America’s votes in a variety of styles. Contestants will be eliminated weekly until a winner is named on the season finale.”
