YouTube commenters on the teaser for ABC’s Will Trent season three episode seven seem really convinced they’ve figured out the killer’s identity. We’ll find out if they’re right when episode seven, “Mariachi Shelly’s Frankenstein,” airs on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 8pm ET/PT.
Ramón Rodríguez leads the cast as the titular character. Erika Christensen stars as Angie Polaski, Iantha Richardson is Faith Mitchell, Jake McLaughlin is Michael Ormewood, and Sonja Sohn is Amanda Wagner. Gina Rodriguez joins the cast as Marion Alba for season three.
“Mariachi Shelly’s Frankenstein” Plot: In the midst of a tropical storm, the APD and GBI race against time to clear the name of an innocent man, uncovering shocking secrets that suggest the killer may be closer than they ever thought.
Erika Christensen and Ramon Rodriguez in ‘Will Trent’ season 3 episode 7 (Disney/Zac Popik)
Will Trent Series Description, Courtesy of ABC:
Based on Karin Slaughter’s New York Times bestselling Will Trent series, Special Agent Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system. Now, Will uses his unique point of view in the pursuit of justice and has the highest clearance rate in the GBI.
Gina Rodriguez and Federico Rodriguez in season 3 episode 7 (Disney/Wilford Harewood)Kevin Daniels, Sonja Sohn and Iantha Richardson in season 3 episode 7 (Disney/Wilford Harewood)Gina Rodriguez in season 3 episode 7 (Disney/Wilford Harewood)Erika Christensen, Ramon Rodriguez and Gina Rodriguez in ‘Will Trent’ season 3 episode 7 (Disney/Zac Popik)Kyrie McAlpin and Antwayn Hopper in season 3 episode 7 (Disney/Zac Popik)
Michelle Williams as Molly and Jenny Slate as Nikki in ‘Dying for Sex’ (Photo CR: Sarah Shatz/FX)
Five-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans) and Jenny Slate (It Ends with Us) star in FX’s upcoming limited series Dying for Sex, based on the true story of a woman’s journey after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. The drama debuts on Hulu on April 4, 2025, with all eight episodes available for binge-watching.
The cast includes Jay Duplass (The Creep Tapes), Kelvin Yu (Bob’s Burgers), David Rasche (Succession), Esco Jouléy (State of the Union), Rob Delaney (Bad Monkey), and Oscar winner Sissy Spacek (Night Sky).
“FX’s Dying for Sex is inspired by the story of Molly Kochan, originally shared on a Wondery podcast created with her best friend, Nikki Boyer. After Molly (Williams) receives a diagnosis of Stage IV metastatic breast cancer, she decides to leave her husband, Steve (Duplass) and begins to explore the full breadth and complexity of her sexual desires for the first time in her life,” reads FX’s synopsis. “Gird yourself, Molly has a lot to accomplish in the little time she has left. There’s no time for pearl clutching or passing judgement, Molly has no interest in what you think about her proverbial bucket list (btw, this phrase will always provoke an eye roll).
She gains the courage to embark on this adventure from her ride or die Nikki (Slate), a woman whose love and devotion will compel you to pick up the phone and call that friend already!”
Kim Rosenstock and Elizabeth Meriwether co-created the series and serve as writers and executive producers. Additional executive producers include Michelle Williams, Nikki Boyer, Katherine Pope, Kathy Ciric, Shannon Murphy, Leslye Headland, and Wondery’s Hernan Lopez, Jen Sargent, Marshall Lewy, and Aaron Hart.
Morfydd Clark as Galadriel in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2 (Credit: Ben Rothstein / Prime Video)
Prime Video’s The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power has officially been renewed for a third season. The upcoming season will see a leap forward in time, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Season three is currently in pre-production, with filming expected to begin this spring at its new home, Shepperton Studios.
Prime Video’s renewal announcement did not indicate returning cast members or include a description of the upcoming season. However, The Hollywood Reporter offered this synopsis: “Season three takes place at the height of the War of the Elves and Sauron, as the Dark Lord seeks to craft the One Ring that will give him the edge he needs to win the war and conquer all Middle-earth at last.”
Charlotte Brändström, Sanaa Hamri, and Stefan Schwartz are on board to direct season three episodes. Brändström was a co-executive producer and directed episodes of the first and second seasons. Hamri directed episodes in season two, and Schwartz is a newcomer to the world of Middle-earth.
“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power continues to captivate audiences worldwide, and we’re thrilled that a third season is underway. The creative team has an extraordinary vision of what’s to come with stories that have left us enchanted and enthralled,” stated Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. “We look forward to continuing this epic journey, for our global customers, delving even deeper into the legendary tales that shaped Middle-earth.”
J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay are the showrunners and executive produce. Additional executive producers include Brändström, Lindsey Weber, Justin Doble, and Kate Hazell. Matthew Penry-Davey serves as a producer.
Charlie Vickers in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Prime Video)
A look back at season two:
“In season two of The Rings of Power, Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without an army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will,” reads Prime Video’s synopsis. “Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity.
Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots—as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other.”
Peyton List as Maddie Nears in ‘School Spirits’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Ed Araquel/Paramount+)
Paramount+’s School Spirits season two episode five opens with Maddie (Peyton List) in a rage, smashing lunch trays out of the livings’ hands. She’s pissed Janet’s in her body and living in her house with her mom.
Speaking of Maddie’s mom, she’s concerned because Maddie doesn’t want to talk to her friends. Not even Simon. Sandra suggests a psychiatrist, and Janet’s instantly on the defensive. Janet decides the best option is to appease Maddie’s mom and ask Maddie’s friends over for dinner.
Over at the school, Quinn’s hoping to enter her scar/hellscape by holding her horn. It doesn’t work, and Rhonda (Sarah Yarkin) assures her she’s lucky it didn’t happen. Their scars are terrifying. As they’re talking, Rhonda finds Mr. Martin’s watch on the ground by the bus stop. The ghost gang, minus Maddie, gather and are now pretty sure Mr. Martin left by possessing someone’s body.
Simon (Kristian Ventura) shows Maddie a text from Sandra inviting them over for dinner. Maddie wonders whose idea it was, but Simon’s sidetracked by the idea that dead chem teacher Mr. Martin is walking around in someone’s body, and they don’t know whose. Simon’s forced to break the bad news that Sandra will not let Janet/Maddie come back to school anytime soon.
Maddie insists that Simon needs to go to dinner at her house, but they need to come up with a plan first. However, that means the ghosties and Maddie’s living BFFs will have to put their brains together to figure out what to do.
Simon sets up seats with photos of Rhonda, Wally, and Charley on the school’s stage, along with chairs for himself, Claire, Xavier, and Nicole. Maddie confirms the ghosts are seated, and the living invade the ghosts’ spaces while examining their school photos. Nicole (Kiara Pichardo) thinks she’d be friends with Charley, and Charley (Nick Pugliese) reacts by declaring he loves her.
Xavier (Spencer MacPherson) stares Rhonda straight in the eyes instead of looking at her photo!
They exchange awkward hellos, and Claire (Rainbow Wedell) confesses she can’t wait to graduate from this creepy school. The ghosts react as you’d expect to that comment, and Maddie has Simon remind them they can see and hear the living.
Simon tells everyone that they need to devise a plan to get Janet back to the school so Maddie and her ghosties can do the body swap. Maddie and the ghosties provide the deets on Janet. Wally (Milo Manheim) suggests they need to treat this as a hostage situation, with Janet being the terrorist. He’s pretty sure they need a bazooka, and Maddie shoots that down since that would definitely injure her body.
Xavier thinks they should pour salt on Janet since ghosts hate that. The ghosts laugh and think that would be great for doing body shots but not much else. Claire suggests they make Janet think the school isn’t scary anymore. They won’t mention Mr. Martin, and they’ll gently let her know they know she’s a ghost. Claire shocks herself by coming up with that suggestion.
Score one for the cheerleader! Even the ghosts agree that’s a fantastic idea. Maddie tells Simon they need to let Janet know that Dawn crossed over. Janet should know how that happened, and it would mean she won’t be stuck at school forever.
Meanwhile, Janet pours through Maddie’s photos and possessions, absorbing as much about her group of friends as possible. She also practices smiling and laughing like Maddie.
After the meeting of Maddie’s friends breaks up, Nicole tells those who are still breathing that she found a photo of Janet in the yearbook. She’s posing with a guy named Eugene who’s still alive and in a nursing home. Maybe they should visit him to get more info on Janet. Or maybe they could even use him as bait. Xavier, Simon, and Claire are worried Janet might not like Eugene and last time she didn’t like someone, she backed over them.
Maddie believes she can take Mr. Martin’s watch down to the boiler room and open up Janet’s scar. It’s the hellhole where Mr. Martin, Janet, and Maddie collided, so it might be where she needs to try to get answers. Maddie offers to go there by herself while Charley and Wally continue to focus on looking for info in Mr. Martin’s notebooks about the body swap.
Ci Hang Ma as Quinn and Sarah Yarkin as Rhonda in ‘School Spirits’ season 2 episode 5 (Photo Credit: Ed Araquel/Paramount+)
And now we get a little more of Rhonda’s backstory when she fetches Quinn from the band room. Rhonda hates being in this room because it brings up memories of Margery. Quinn’s stunned to learn Rhonda was friends with Margery, an alum who became a one-hit wonder. Rhonda and Margery wrote songs together, but only Margery was credited.
Later, Rhonda finds Quinn listening to Margery’s only hit. Rhonda admits she’s never made it past the second verse because her best friend wrote it about her. Even Margery blamed her for her own murder and wrote the song mocking her for trusting that teacher. That’s how all her classmates remember her.
Wally’s brain hurts from thinking so much, so it’s a good thing that Yuri (Miles Elliot) shows up to help out. (Yuri never ever leaves the pottery studio!)
Maddie walks around the boiler room holding Mr. Martin’s watch, and suddenly a red glow appears. She opens a door and steps back into a classroom engulfed in flames. She finds a lab coat that says Janet Hamilton PhD on the floor. Trophies and articles on Janet show she was an aspiring chemist who could have gone far had she not died. Snippets of new reports fill the air, revealing Janet could have graduated at the top of her class at MIT and won the Nobel Prize.
Janet, face half-destroyed by fire, whispers, “I was robbed,” in Maddie’s ear.
Back at the library, Yuri grabs a physiology book, which gives Charley a moment to panic about whether Yuri’s into him. Wally is sure he is. Why else would he be helping them? Yuri returns and he’s figured out Mr. Martin was writing about dopamine and serotonin. If Mr. Martin had manipulated those, he could have opened access points.
Nicole visits the Red Pine nursing home alone, and Eugene confirms he and Janet were close friends. A flashback shows Mr. Martin in a rotten mood after learning he was told to leave his teaching position in two weeks. The memories are painful, and Eugene refuses to talk about the fire. However, he says that neither Mr. Martin nor Janet would have made an accidental mistake that caused it.
Maddie joins Yuri, Rhonda, Wally, and Charley in the library to listen in on the dinner. (Simon called the phone before he left and kept the line open.) Sandra greets Simon and the gang at the door and warns them Maddie may seem a little off. They should keep the conversation light.
Janet apologizes to everyone for what she put them through. It’s super awkward, and finally, Xavier asks for the salt. (He’s dead set on testing his theory.)
A scene from ‘School Spirits’ season 2 episode 5 (Photo Credit: Ed Araquel/Paramount+)
The audio on the phone in the library is horrible and they can barely make out what’s being said. But it doesn’t matter, Maddie’s heard enough. It’s too painful to hear her friends at her house talking to the ghost who possessed her body.
Simon and Claire lie about a new telescope that’s just been mounted on the school’s roof, preloaded with 40,000 celestial objects. A wealthy alumnus donated money to the science department, and now they’re offering AP Astronomy.
They catch Janet knowing something about the history of telescopes that Maddie would never have known, confirming that Janet’s in Maddie’s body once and for all. Xavier continues to play with salt, as Claire suggests Maddie should sneak into school and check it out. Simon says she could take the class, and Sandra breaks the news that Maddie’s finishing school online.
Wally joins Maddie at the school’s pool, and Maddie reveals she got into Janet’s scar. Since visiting Janet’s hellscape, Maddie thinks Janet deserves to live. Janet will have a much brighter future than Maddie would ever have. Maddie now knows Janet wanted to make a difference and was brilliant. “She’ll live a bigger life than me, Wally,” says Maddie.
Wally agrees that might be true, but the rest of us carry small gifts that are just as important to those whose lives they touch. Although he’d love it if Maddie were stuck there with him, he believes she deserves to live. They stare into each other’s eyes and kiss, falling into the pool in the process. The kissing continues in the water.
Back at Maddie’s house, Xavier “accidentally” spills salt on Janet as Simon and Claire keep talking up the telescope. Nothing works, and suddenly Nicole says, “Eugene Berkstrom misses you.” Janet is speechless and then looks around the table, realizing the friends are onto her. She rushes into the kitchen and Sandra follows, asking about Eugene. Janet claims he’s just a boy at school and that she’s tired and wants to send her friends home.
Claire and Simon insist Nicole screwed up by mentioning Eugene. Nicole points out their telescope plan wasn’t getting anywhere, and everyone tells Xavier that staring at Janet without blinking wasn’t helping. Nicole finally confesses she saw Eugene and that Mr. Martin probably set the fire that killed him and Janet.
Simon speaks to Janet alone in the kitchen, insisting she can trust them not to blow her cover. He tells her that Mr. Martin’s gone and Dawn crossed over, which means she can, too. Unfortunately, the custodian starts vacuuming the school library and Janet hears the noise coming from the phone in Simon’s pocket. She grabs it and places it in boiling water.
Janet warns Simon it’s time for him to leave, holding a knife to get her point clearly across.
Since Janet hung up, the ghosts can’t listen anymore. Quinn convinces Rhonda to go with her to the band room; she has something to share. After Quinn and Rhonda leave, Yuri thanks Charley for finding him and making him leave the pottery studio.
Wally and Maddie have fun in the pool, discussing the afterlife and how Wally imagines the great beyond. He doesn’t think it will ever get better than this.
Over at Maddie’s, Simon and Claire are still upset that Nicole visited Eugene. Before leaving, Xavier asks Sandra about a framed photo and realizes the fisherman he saw when he was dying in the hospital is Maddie’s dead dad! He posts a message on the Weird Wisconsin board to his friend and Nicole reads it, suddenly realizing she’s been talking to Xavier this whole time.
Quinn has Rhonda listen to the next verse of Margery’s song. Quinn’s written down the lyrics, and it’s obvious that Margery was calling herself, not Rhonda, a fool. Margery blamed herself for not helping Rhonda when she needed her. Margery’s song is about how much she misses Rhonda and the place that she held in her heart.
“Maybe we’ve all been looping on the wrong things,” says Quinn. Rhonda asks to keep the paper with the lyrics and smiles with tears in her eyes as she thanks Quinn.
Miles Elliot as Yuri and Nick Pugliese as Charley in ‘School Spirits’ season 2 episode 5 (Photo Credit: Ed Araquel/Paramount+)
Yuri and Charley keep thinking about ways to get Janet to give up Maddie’s body. Yuri’s sure Janet’s freaking out but not showing it. Charley makes his move, sort of, and asks Yuri to go with him to Wally’s class reunion. Charley makes it clear it’s a party not a date and Yuri replies, “Why can’t it be?” and then smiles.
Wally and Maddie are walking through the hallway when they hear Mr. Anderson. He’s not sure what’s going on but is happy to see Maddie. He hugs her and Wally, and then wonders who Wally is. Mr. Anderson says he took a box to his car and came up to get the other one, but it keeps unpacking itself. Mr. Martin must have taken Mr. Anderson’s body!
Nicole, Xavier, Simon, and Claire are still parked outside Maddie’s house when Mr. Anderson pulls up. They’re shocked and do not know why he’d show up there. Mr. Anderson hands Sandra a novel to give to Maddie, happy to hear she’s back home. He promises to come back by tomorrow.
Janet takes the trash out, including Fahrenheit 451, the book Mr. Anderson just dropped off. She’s beside the trashcan when a hooded figure puts a pillowcase over her head from behind.
The promo for Fox’s Doc episode seven teases the return of someone disturbing from Sonya’s past. Episode seven, “Secrets and Lies,” will air on Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 9pm ET/PT.
Molly Parker plays Chief of Internal Medicine Dr. Amy Larsen, Omar Metwally is Dr. Michael Hamda, Amirah Vann is Dr. Gina Walker, Jon Ecker is Dr. Jake Heller, and Anya Banerjee is Dr. Sonya Maitra. Season one guest stars include Scott Wolf as Dr. Richard Miller and Patrick Walker as Dr. TJ Coleman.
“Secrets and Lies” Plot: Sonya wrestles with treating a guy from her past and must rely on Amy to help her. Richard (Scott Wolf) deals with a family situation. Jake and TJ debate the moral implications of a diagnosis.
After a late-night car crash results in severe head trauma, Amy wakes up from surgery with no recollection of the patients she’s treated, the colleagues she’s crossed and the tragedy that caused her to push almost everyone away. The relief that Amy gets from seeing her family post-accident is fleeting when she learns the incomprehensible – that she and her beloved husband, Dr. Michael Hamda have been divorced for four years. In fact, her entire family is not at all as she remembers them, rocking her foundation to the core.
Amy’s best friend, neuropsychiatrist Dr. Gina Walker, has little guidance to give her for this new reality since matters of the brain are, even to the experts, still a big mystery. While Gina is hopeful, she does not know if Amy will ever recover her memories. In Amy’s fragile state, Gina must choose carefully what information from the past eight years to reveal to her, scared that too much too soon could prove more harmful than good. This includes her secret romance with Dr. Jake Heller, since Amy now has no recollection of ever meeting him before, let alone being in a passionate relationship with him. Certain other memories, those close to her believe, would perhaps be too painful to relive and are best left forgotten.
In a fateful irony, that’s the fervent hope for Amy’s colleague, Dr. Richard Miller, who has now been promoted to take over as Chief of Internal Medicine after Amy’s accident. Richard is desperate for Amy’s memories to never return since she was the only person to uncover his career-ending mistake – another thing she now doesn’t recall.
And Richard isn’t alone in relishing Amy’s predicament – her previously contentious and unkind behavior left her with more than a few enemies at the hospital, including Dr. Sonya Maitra. While she does remember Dr. TJ Coleman, she does not recall that he became a doctor – nor that it was she who inspired him to do so.
Feeling completely off balance and having to piece together what happened through the prism of other people’s subjective points of view, practicing medicine remains the one constant for Amy, and she is determined to become a doctor again. While she may never get back what she’s lost, Amy knows she’s been given a second chance to do things differently and she will not take that gift for granted.
Fans of the original animated How to Train Your Dragon film waiting to see how the live-action version separates itself will have to wait a while longer. The full trailer for the reimagined live-action/CGI adaptation looks pretty much like the original film, although it is fun to see Gerard Butler fully embrace Stoick the Vast in the flesh.
Mason Thames stars as Toothless’ BFF, Hiccup. The cast also includes Nico Parker, Nick Frost, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Ruth Codd, Peter Serafinowicz, and Murray McArthur. The original film’s writer and director, Dean DeBlois, returns in those capacities for the new take on Cressida Cowell’s bestselling book series.
DeBlois also serves as a producer along with Marc Platt and Adam Siegel.
Night Fury dragon, Toothless, and Hiccup (Mason Thames) in Universal Pictures’ live-action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’
“On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast, 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 DreamWorks’ synopsis. “With the fierce and ambitious Astrid and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber 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.”
How to Train Your Dragon will be released in theaters on June 13, 2025.
The red dresses have become uniforms and the women wearing them are now an army in Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale season six teaser trailer. The minute-and-a-half promo video doesn’t give away much but instead teases the upcoming culmination of the uprising, declaring that the revolution is here.
The final season will premiere on April 8, 2025 with the release of the first three episodes. New episodes will stream on Tuesdays leading up to the May 27th finale.
Elisabeth Moss returns to lead the cast as June Osborne. Yvonne Strahovski stars as Serena, Bradley Whitford is Joseph Lawrence, Max Minghella is Nick, Ann Dowd is Aunt Lydia, and O.T. Fagbenle stars as Luke. Samira Wiley plays Moira, Madeline Brewer is Janine, Amanda Brugel is Rita, Sam Jaeger is Mark, and Ever Carradine is Naomi. Josh Charles joins the cast of the critically acclaimed, award-winning drama for season six.
“In the final season of The Handmaid’s Tale, June’s unyielding spirit and determination pull her back into the fight to take down Gilead. Luke and Moira join the resistance. Serena tries to reform Gilead while Commander Lawrence and Aunt Lydia reckon with what they have wrought, and Nick faces challenging tests of character,” reads Hulu’s synopsis. “This final chapter of June’s journey highlights the importance of hope, courage, solidarity, and resilience in the pursuit of justice and freedom.”
The sixth season is executive produced by Elisabeth Moss, Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Eric Tuchman, Yahlin Chang, Sheila Hockin, John Weber, Frank Siracusa, Steve Stark, Kim Todd, Daniel Wilson, and Fran Sears.
Poster for ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ season 6 (Photo Credit: Hulu)
The White Stripes are among the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 nominees
14 performers have made the cut and will be voted on as possible Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees in 2025. Among this year’s batch of artists are first-time nominees: Bad Company, The Black Crowes, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Maná, Outkast, and Phish.
Filling out this year’s roster are Mariah Carey, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Oasis, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes. Artists are eligible for consideration 25 years after releasing their first commercial recording.
“These remarkable Nominees have each created their own musical style and attitude, impacting generations of music lovers and contributing to the ever-evolving sounds and continued growth of rock & roll,” stated John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.
Last year’s crop of inductees included Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, and A Tribe Called Quest. A voting panel consisting of more than 1,200 artists, historians, and music industry professionals will vote on this year’s nominees. Artists are selected based on their “impact on music culture, influence on other musicians that have followed, as well as the scope and longevity of their career and body of work.”
2025 inductees will be announced in April. A special induction ceremony will be held this fall in Los Angeles.
“Born from the collision of rhythm & blues, country, and gospel, rock & roll is a spirit that is inclusive and ever-changing. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrates the sound of youth culture and honors the artists whose music connects us all. We share stories of the people, events, and songs that shape our world through digital content, innovative exhibits, live music, engaging programs, and our annual Induction Ceremony,” reads the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame official description. “We intentionally foster a diverse and equitable nonprofit museum that encourages and embraces creativity and innovation. As a community leader, we value, empower, and respect all people.”
2019’s Avengers: Endgame concluded with Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) entrusting his shield and the mantle of Captain America to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World sees Sam Wilson’s return as the Free World’s patriotic hero, working for a new president to avert a global crisis.
After retrieving stolen Adamantium – a material more powerful and stronger than Vibranium – from Sidewinder (Giancarlo Esposito), Sam and his friend Torres (Danny Ramirez) are invited to the White House by President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford). They’re there to attend a special meeting of leaders of different countries to work towards a treaty agreement.
Five men, including a member of the Secret Service and Sam’s old friend Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly), attempt to assassinate President Ross while he’s speaking to the group. Leaping into action, Sam and Torres take down the assassins. But when Sam stops Bradley, he looks lost and can’t remember what just happened.
In a meeting held after the assassination attempt, Sam pleads with President Ross for permission to investigate. Ross vetoes the idea, stating that having Captain America investigate wouldn’t look good, especially since one of the assassins is Sam’s friend. Convinced of a larger conspiracy involving mind control and a puppet master, Sam and the almost-Falcon, Torres, work together off the books to find this mastermind and understand his final goal.
Finally, the Marvel universe is back on track. Captain America: Brave New World is the first Marvel film since Avengers: Endgame to bring back the stirring action, fun, excitement, and heart to the MCU. It captures the tone of earlier Marvel releases such as The Incredible Hulk and Captain America: Civil War.
Anthony Mackie shines as Sam Wilson, the new Captain America who is finally comfortable in carrying the shield and bringing hope to the world and pain to those who threaten it. Harrison Ford, taking over the role of Thaddeus Ross from the deceased William Hurt, portrays Ross as a man who, while still obsessed with control, is trying to change. This version of Ross wants world peace to be his legacy instead of war and aggression. Ford shows Ross as a man with many regrets who’s striving to do the right thing for the world.
The action scenes are fast-paced and exciting. Especially impressive is the opening action sequence with Sam and his new Captain America suit going up against Sidewinder and his many thugs. Overall, Captain America: Brave New World is just the right mixture of fun and excitement that Marvel and superhero fans have been waiting for.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, action, and some strong language
Running Time: 1 hour 58 minutes
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Directed By: Julius Onah
The upcoming third season of Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time has released its first official trailer ahead of its March 13, 2025 premiere. The new season is based on Robert Jordan’s fourth book of his bestselling series, The Shadow Rising, and leads up to the prophesied final battle.
Season three will kick off with the release of the first three episodes. New episodes will stream on Thursdays.
Rosamund Pike returns to lead the cast as Moiraine Damodred, Josha Stradowski is Rand al’Thor, Daniel Henney is al’Lan Mandragoran, Zoë Robins is Nynaeve al’Meara, Madeleine Madden is Egwene al’Vere, and Marcus Rutherford plays Perrin Aybara. Dónal Finn stars as Mat Cauthon, Ceara Coveney is Elayne Trakand, Sophie Okonedo plays Siuan Sanche, Kate Fleetwood is Liandrin Guirale, Natasha O’Keeffe is Lanfear, Ayoola Smart is Aviendha, and Kae Alexander plays Min Farshaw.
The cast also includes Priyanka Bose as Alanna Mosvani, Taylor Napier as Maksim, Hammed Animashaun as Loial, Meera Syal as Verin Mathwin, Jennifer Cheon Garcia as Leane, Johann Myers as Padan Fain, Jay Duffy as Dain Bornhald, and Laia Costa as Moghedien. Rounding out the ensemble are Isabella Bucceri as Faile Bashere, Olivia Williams as Queen Morgase Trakand, and Shohreh Aghdashloo as Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan.
Poster for ‘The Wheel of Time’ (Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios)
Prime Video offers this lengthy description of the series:
“In The Wheel of Time, a humble farm boy, Rand al’Thor, learns he is The Dragon Reborn—a dangerous figure from history destined to save the world … or break it. The Wheel of Time turns, and the Last Battle approaches.
After defeating Ishamael, one of the most powerful of the Forsaken, at the end of Season Two, Rand reunites with his friends in the city of Falme and is declared the Dragon Reborn. But in Season Three, the threats against the Light are multiplying: the White Tower stands divided, the Black Ajah run free, old enemies return to the Two Rivers, and the remaining Forsaken are in hot pursuit of the Dragon… including Lanfear, whose relationship with Rand will mark a crucial choice between Light and Dark for them both.
As the ties to his past begin to unravel, and his corrupted power grows stronger, Rand becomes increasingly unrecognizable to his closest allies, Moiraine and Egwene. These powerful women, who started the series as teacher and student, must now work together to prevent the Dragon from turning to the Dark…no matter the cost.”
Rafe Judkins adapted Robert Jordan’s work and serves as showrunner and executive producer. Rosamund Pike, Mike Weber, Marigo Kehoe, Ciaran Donnelly, Justine Juel Gillmer, and Dave Hill also executive produce. Additional executive producers include Radar Pictures’ Ted Field and iwot productions’ Rick Selvage and Larry Mondragon.
Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred in season 3 (Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios)Olivia Williams as Queen Morgase Trakand and Shohreh Aghdashloo as Elaida do Avriny a’Roihan in season 3 (Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios)Daniel Henney as al’Lan Mandragoran, Josha Stradowski as Rand al’Thor, and Rosamund Pike as Moiraine Damodred in season 3 (Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios)Ceara Coveney as Elayne Trakand, Madeleine Madden as Egwene al’Vere, and Zoë Robins as Nynaeve al’Meara in season 3 (Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios)Kae Alexander as Min and Dónal Finn as Mat Cauthon in season 3 (Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios)Josha Stradowski as Rand al’Thor, Marcus Rutherford as Perrin Aybara, and Dónal Finn as Matrim ‘Mat’ Cauthon in season 3 (Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios)
