Robert De Niro and Jenna Ortega sign up for ‘Shutout’ (Photo Credits: Brigitte Lacombe, Ben Cope, Courtesy of Black Bear)
Two-time Oscar winner Robert De Niro (The Godfather Part II, Raging Bull) and Emmy nominee Jenna Ortega (Wednesday) will star in director David O. Russell’s upcoming pool hustling drama Shutout. The film will mark the fifth time De Niro and Russell have teamed up on a feature. The two have previously worked together on Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, Joy, and Amsterdam.
Alejandro Adams wrote the screenplay, and Russell, Mark Bomback, and RK Films’ Joe Roth and Jeff Kirschenbaum will serve as producers.
“We’re delighted to be collaborating with the acclaimed director David O. Russell and the legendary Robert De Niro, and especially excited to see Jenna step into the spotlight alongside these two cinematic icons,” stated RK Films’ Jeff Kirschenbaum. “It’s a rare and thrilling opportunity to support such a high-caliber team coming together to tell a compelling story — a lineup so precise, it feels like the perfect break.”
Black Bear released this description of Russell’s new film:
“Shutout follows Jake Kejeune (De Niro), one of the last masters of a vanishing craft – the pool hustler. Having lived and lost by the roll of a ball in smoky backroom halls, Jake encounters Mia (Ortega), a young prodigy whose raw, electrifying talent reignites a fire he thought long extinguished. Sensing a rare opportunity to shape a legend, Jake takes Mia under his wing, honing her instincts and sharpening her natural gift.
Together, they plunge into the ruthless world of high-stakes pool, where the line between unimaginable fortune and devastating failure is razor-thin. As Mia’s star ascends and her ambition grows, Jake must confront the ultimate question: can he steer her to greatness, or will her hunger for victory eclipse everything he has taught her?”
Black Bear is set to introduce Russell’s latest project to international buyers at the 2025 Cannes Film Market.
CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted returns from a two-week break with an episode that finds the team looking into political conspiracies. Directed by Cory Bowles and written by D. Dona Le, episode 20, ‘Trash Day,” will air on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 10pm ET/PT.
“Trash Day” Plot: After a New Jersey mayor is kidnapped, the Fugitive Task Force works against the clock to untangle a web of political conspiracies that may aid their investigation. Meanwhile, Ray’s camping trip with his father and Caleb takes an unexpected turn.
Dylan McDermott leads the cast as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott. Season six also stars Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase, Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, Keisha Castle-Hughes as Special Agent Hana Gibson, and Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon.
FBI: Most Wanted is a high-stakes drama that focuses on the Fugitive Task Force, an elite unit that relentlessly pursues and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau’s Most Wanted list. The team’s charming but formidable leader is Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott, who started his career in the New York FBI field office before rising through the ranks of the Bureau in Philadelphia and Las Vegas.
The team includes Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, a former NYPD detective and forensics expert; Special Agent Hana Gibson, a gifted millennial computer whiz with a sharp wit and mad hacking skills; Special Agent Ray Cannon, who is a former New Orleans cop-turned-junior detective and worked Violent Crimes in Albany after following in his retired FBI agent father’s footsteps; along with well-seasoned Special Agent Nina Chase, who worked assorted cases with the FBI’s New York office, and among her strengths is her undercover work.
Melissa Roxburgh returns as Colter’s sister, Dory, on CBS’s Tracker season two episode 19. Roxburgh only appears for a few minutes, with Dory passing along a mysterious box of their dad’s. Dory doesn’t think there’s anything important inside, but Colter (Justin Hartley) recalls their dad always thought someone was trying to steal his ideas. He’d lost his academic credibility, but Colter thinks something in his research might have gotten him killed.
Their dad was a genius, but Dory points out that he was losing his mind toward the end.
Reenie (Fiona Rene) calls and asks Colter to come to Seattle because an assistant to her client Leo Sharf is missing. Before he leaves, Dory asks Colter not to obsess over the items in their dad’s box.
Francie has been missing since this morning and Leo (Pej Vahdat) is reluctant to call the police. His new company is launching tomorrow, and he doesn’t want bad publicity. Francie was editing Leo’s speech when he called her late last night. She didn’t answer her phone this morning, so Leo and Reenie went to her hotel room. Francie didn’t respond to their knock, and security let them in. She was gone but left her purse and phone behind. Security footage didn’t show anyone entering or leaving the room after midnight.
Francie must have left in a hurry through the window, via the fire escape. Apparently, the company launch has been stressful, but Francie remained calm. Leo believes a competitor took her because his work is worth a lot of money. Just then, Leo receives an email with a video of Francie. She’s reading a statement that indicates she’ll die if Leo doesn’t obey the rules. He has one hour to transfer $5 million to an account. She begs for his help.
Leo calls his bank and learns he can’t transfer that much money that quickly.
Bobby (Eric Graise) tracks the IP address to a location 35 minutes away. Unfortunately, Francie only has 35 minutes left on the timer. Colter races over as the clock ticks down. He arrives with less than a minute left and scales a fence. Colter locates the room where the video was shot, but Francie’s gone. Blood on the wall behind the chair indicates she may have been shot. A sign reads, “You broke the rules.”
Colter informs Reenie and Leo that the kidnappers didn’t intend to hand her over. He got there before the timer went off. While he’s on the phone, Colter finds a bullet without any tissue on it. He’s certain this is a setup. It’s not a corporate kidnapping; someone has a personal grudge against Leo. Reenie mentions Sheldon Grimes, one of the founders of Leo’s company, who was asked to resign last week. It turns out that Sheldon has a connection to this warehouse.
Leo believes Sheldon took Francie to destroy the company’s launch.
Sheldon lives downtown, and Colter heads to his townhouse. The door’s unlocked, and Colter carefully looks around. He’s not home, but his cell phone is there, indicating he left in a hurry.
Reenie suggests to Leo that he cancel the launch. She warned him not to confront Grimes; the timing was horrible. Leo insists it was important that he told Grimes to resign in person because they’d known each other for a long time.
Leo thinks that if they cancel, they can’t mention Francie. Reenie says they can blame the chip company for the delay. Whatever they do, they can’t move forward on the launch. Word will eventually get out about Francie, and the resulting publicity will be disastrous.
Colter continues looking around Grimes’ place. He calls Leo about a yacht in a photo, believing it might be where Sheldon’s hiding.
Reenie blames herself since she dug up the dirt on Grimes. She tells Elliott (Michael Rady) what’s going on and admits she allowed Leo to hold a favor he did over her head to help get rid of Grimes. Elliott warns that what’s most important now is that she protects herself. Reenie realizes there’s a flash drive back at the office with a copy of the new shareholder agreement cutting Grimes out. If word gets out that there was a fight between Leo and Grimes, it will tank the company. Elliott volunteers to go with her to retrieve the flash drive.
Colter looks around the yacht and finds photos of a woman who’s been abused. It’s the file Reenie put together with the dirt they dug up. Turns out, Grimes is a serial abuser.
Sheldon’s laptop is still on the boat, and Colter has Bobby tap into it. The first thing that pops up is Reenie’s website. An open box of bullets is next to the laptop.
Reenie grabs the flash drive and sends Elliott to the conference room to see if they left any papers there. Colter calls with an update, and the phone goes dead while Reenie’s talking. Someone walked up behind her and grabbed her!
Colter rushes over to the office and finds boxes and papers scattered on the floor. He calls Reenie’s phone again and follows the sound of her ringtone. Elliott is there, but he is unconscious. Colter calls for help, and a short while later, he walks an FBI agent through the last few hours. Reenie’s purse and phone are there, but there’s no sign of her.
The agent learns that Sheldon used his keycard an hour before Reenie got there. Colter spots a high heel print and sounds proud when he suggests it indicates that Reenie put up a fight. Plus, there are two handprints of different sizes. Two people were in on this, with one attacking Elliott and the other grabbing Reenie.
Colter wants to help investigate, but the agent says he’s not needed. Leo pulls Colter aside and confirms he wants him to remain on the case. Colter assures him he wasn’t planning on stopping.
Bobby gets ATM footage off a bank camera and sees a black SUV leaving after Reenie arrived. The license plate wasn’t visible. However, Reenie has a smart ring to track her sleep, and Bobby tracks her location using it. He sends Colter the address, and Colter speeds over.
A black SUV is parked outside a warehouse with Reenie’s tracker ring inside. Colter examines the alley and finds Francie tied up. She’s panicking, but Colter manages to calm her down as he sets her free.
The FBI arrives, and Francie reveals that two men with ski masks took her. She never saw Reenie. Francie believes the two men were working for someone because they were responding to instructions. She agrees with Leo and Reenie that Sheldon Grimes might be behind this. Many people hate Leo and think he’s a ruthless businessman who steals other people’s ideas.
The agent apologizes for trying to kick Colter off the case and believes they need to work together. He thinks Reenie’s a more valuable asset, and that’s why Sheldon let Francie go. Grimes’ phone records indicate he called lots of people he used to work with, probably looking for someone who would help him go after Leo.
The SUV is registered to Jimmy Pike, a man who was part of a botched murder-for-hire scheme.
Reenie begs her kidnappers not to kill her, insisting she’s worth more alive than dead. She’s in for a real shock when they place her in a room with Grimes, who is also tied up. Grimes claims Leo’s behind all of this and that Reenie has no idea who Leo really is.
Her kidnappers return and kill Grimes.
Bobby’s been researching Leo’s enemies and discovers that Francie is related to a programmer named Cyrus, who died by suicide after Leo got rich off an algorithm he created. Leo had no idea Francie was Cyrus’ younger sister when he hired her as his executive assistant. She’s trying to use Grimes as the fall guy to avenge her brother’s death.
Colter thinks she took Reenie because of how close Reenie is to Leo. Francie’s been multiple steps ahead of them all this time and meticulously planned this out. Bobby sends Colter the address of a commercial property Francie rented months ago.
Francie shows up at Leo’s office and holds him at gunpoint. She reveals her true identity and what this is all about. Francie points out that Leo never once checked in on their family after her brother committed suicide.
Francie forces Leo to his knees and says everything that happens will be blamed on Grimes. She’s even holding Grimes’ gun right now. The gun will be with Grimes’ body when the cops find it. Francie orders Leo to admit what he did to her brother, and Leo confesses he stole Cyrus’ creation and took all the profits for himself. But he’d give up his life to have Cyrus back.
Francie gives him a choice: either he dies or Reenie dies.
Colter sneaks around outside the warehouse Francie rented and spots the kidnappers. He attacks one of the two men after they move Grimes’ body outside. The other heads back inside to kill Reenie. Colter follows the other man inside as Reenie begs for her life. He’s about to shoot her when Colter knocks him out. Justifiably scared, Reenie hugs Colter and sobs after being cut loose. Reenie’s worried about Elliott, and Colter assures her that he’s at the hospital right now.
While all this is going down, the FBI bursts through Leo’s door and kills Francie just as she’s about to shoot Leo.
Case closed, Colter relaxes with a beer back in his trailer while considering going through his dad’s box. Reenie shows up before heading to the hospital to see Elliott and passes along her boyfriend’s thanks for saving his life. “Thank you for saving my life,” adds an emotional Reenie. Colter replies, “You would have done the same thing for me.”
Reenie spoke with Leo, and he denied stealing Francie’s brother’s work. The FBI told her Leo was willing to die for her, and although she’s not sure if he took Cyrus’ work, she’s not willing to admit Leo’s not a good guy. Reenie believes he’s complicated, and Colter admits he can understand Francie better than Leo.
They hug before Reenie heads out. The second she leaves, Colter begins digging into his dad’s box. It contains paperwork, rocks, and a journal. He locates a hidden note that Dory didn’t notice in the journal’s binding! Colter calls the phone number on the note, only to find it disconnected.
Season two wraps up with episode 20, the finale, airing on May 11, 2025.
The Elsbeth season two finale is a who’s who of returning guest stars. And to top it off, the finale will feature a “musical number tribute to Chicago’s “Cell Block Tango.” Season two episode 20 was directed by Lionel Coleman and will air on CBS on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 9pm ET/PT.
“Ramen Holiday” Plot: Elsbeth finds herself in prison with some of the same high-class criminals she put away. When one of them is stabbed to death, Elsbeth sets out to find the killer’s killer, while her colleagues back at the precinct fight to get her released, on the season two finale.
Returning guest stars include Stephen Moyer, Retta, Gina Gershon, Elizabeth Lail, Arian Moayed, André De Shields, Alyssa Milano, and Mary-Louise Parker.
Carrie Preston stars as Elsbeth Tascioni, Wendell Pierce stars as Captain C.W. Wagner, and Carra Patterson is back as Officer Kaya Blanke. Robert King, Michelle King, Liz Glotzer, and Jonathan Tolins serve as executive producers.
Emmy Award winner Carrie Preston is back as Elsbeth Tascioni, the astute but unconventional consent decree attorney working with the NYPD to catch New York’s most well-heeled murderers utilizing her unique point of view. Season two of the critically acclaimed series brings new cases and challenges when mistakes of the past come back to haunt Elsbeth, her boss Captain Wagner (Pierce), and detective in training Officer Kaya Blanke (Patterson).
The key pieces of Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie puzzle are in place, with the streamer announcing its Ingalls family cast. Luke Bracey (Elvis) is set to play Charles Ingalls and Crosby Fitzgerald (Palm Royale) will play Caroline Ingalls.
Skywalker Hughes (I, Object) is on board to play Laura’s older sister, Mary Ingalls. Netflix announced earlier in the day that Alice Halsey (Lessons in Chemistry) will star as Laura.
Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys) is the showrunner and executive produces alongside Dana Fox, Susanna Fogel, Joy Gorman Wettels for Joy Coalition, and Trip Friendly for Friendly Family Productions.
Netflix released the following series and character descriptions:
“Part hopeful family drama, part epic survival tale, and part origin story of the American West, this fresh adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s iconic semi-autobiographical Little House books offers a kaleidoscopic view of the struggles and triumphs of those who shaped the frontier.”
Charles (Bracey) won his wife’s heart by carrying her three miles through the snow to a winter dance. He’s a man who’d fit in seamlessly into the 21st century. Ruggedly handsome, charming, outgoing. A farmer and a trapper. A carpenter and an artist. A poet, a musician, a skilled storyteller. The original Girl Dad. He is an optimist, always glass half-full. But he is also a wanderer. A seeker. A man forever in search of greener pastures.
Caroline (Fitzgerald) did not marry her husband out of convenience — they fell truly, madly, deeply in love. It was a great romance — and it still is. She’s got a playful side, a romantic side — but at the end of the day, she’s the one who keeps this family on track. Like moms do. She’s quiet and patient and practical — but with a core of steel. She gave up her teaching career to have a family, but that yearning for independence never quite went away. Her marriage is one of equals — something rare in the 19th century. And though her trust in her husband is tested, the strength of their love endures.
Mary Ingalls (Hughes) is Laura’s older sister and polar opposite. A rule follower. Quiet and studious. Always angling to be the good daughter, the obedient one, the ladylike one, the prettier one. Other parents love Mary. Unlike her sister, she is uncomfortable in the natural world: the sun is too hot, the snow is too cold. She loves pretty ribbons and reading poetry and long afternoons of sewing. In other words, Laura and Mary are oil and water. Best friends and mortal enemies. They love each other deeply and hate each other intensely. But in the end, they always have each other’s backs — there is no choice but to protect each other in this wild new landscape.
CBS’s Ghosts wraps up a season that served up a puritan ghost freaked out by modern life, brought Bela back to help with Jay’s restaurant, and killed off Isaac’s favorite dinosaur-living stripper. And season four episode 22, the season finale, welcomes Matt Walsh back as Elias Woodstone for an episode celebrating Sam and Isaac’s vampire book. “The Devil Went Down to Woodstone” will air on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 8:30pm ET/PT.
“The Devil Went Down to Woodstone” Plot: Sam and Jay host a big party for the launch of Sam and Isaac’s vampire book on the fourth season finale. Punam Patel and Mary Holland reprise their guest starring roles.
Rose McIver stars as Sam, Utkarsh Ambudkar is Jay, Brandon Scott Jones is Isaac, and Richie Moriarty plays Pete. Danielle Pinnock is Alberta, Asher Grodman is Trevor, Román Zaragoza stars as Sasappis, Rebecca Wisocky plays Hetty, Devan Chandler Long is Thorfinn, and Sheila Carrasco is Flower. Tristan D. Lalla guest stars as Mark.
Ghosts is a single-camera comedy about Samantha and Jay, a cheerful freelance journalist and up-and-coming chef from the city, respectively, who threw both caution and money to the wind when they decided to convert Woodstone Mansion, which Sam inherited, into a bed & breakfast—only to find it was inhabited by the many spirits of deceased residents who now call it home.
The departed souls are a close-knit, eclectic group that includes a saucy Prohibition-era lounge singer (Danielle Pinnock); a pompous 18th-century militiaman (Brandon Scott Jones); a ‘60s hippie fond of hallucinogens (Sheila Carrasco); an overly upbeat ‘80s scout troop leader (Richie Moriarty); a cod-obsessed Viking explorer from 1009 (Devon Chandler Long); a slick ‘90s finance bro (Asher Grodman); a sarcastic and witty native from the 16th-century (Román Zaragoza); and a society woman and wife of a 19th-century robber baron who is Sam’s ancestor (Rebecca Wisocky), to name a few. The opening of the B&B has been a source of intrigue, anxiety, and curiosity among the spirits, but they will gladly put up with the commotion as long as they can continue to interact with a living inhabitant.
Filmmaker Danny Philippou describes Bring Her Back, which is not a sequel to Talk to Me, as harrowing, traumatic, and fun. A24’s latest look at the much-anticipated new original horror film from Danny and Michael Philippou is creepy and weird, and Michael promises it’s more psychological than Talk to Me.
Sally Hawkins (Wonka) stars along with Billy Barratt (Invasion), Sora Wong, Jonah Wren Phillips (Sweet Tooth), and Sally-Anne Upton (Neighbours). The cast also includes Stephen Phillips (Apple Cider Vinegar) and Mischa Heywood (The Wonder Gang).
“A brother and sister uncover a terrifying ritual at the secluded home of their new foster mother,” reads A24’s cryptic description. The Philippous write and direct, with Samantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton serving as producers.
Yul Vazquez (Severance) begins his recurring guest star role as Sheriff Caleb on ABC’s Will Trent season three episode 17, and fans on YouTube think it’s possible the sheriff’s Will’s father. After all, the promo reveals Will’s new enemy has a “shocking secret.” Episode 17, directed by Erika Christensen, will air on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 8pm ET/PT.
“Why Hello, Sheriff” Plot: While investigating a murder in a rural town and clashing with the local sheriff, Will uncovers surprising truths about his past. Meanwhile, Angie makes an unexpected discovery, and Ormewood continues to struggle with his diagnosis.
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.
Ramon Rodriguez and Yul Vazquez in ‘Will Trent’ season 3 episode 17 (Disney/Wilford Harewood)
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.
Ramon Rodriguez and Iantha Richardson in season 3 episode 17 (Disney/Wilford Harewood)Cora Lu Tran in season 3 episode 17 (Disney/Zac Popik)Yul Vazquez and Malena Cunningham Anderson in season 3 episode 17 (Disney/Wilford Harewood)Iantha Richardson and Cora Lu Tran in ‘Will Trent’ season 3 episode 17 (Disney/Zac Popik)
Shudder’s unveiled the official trailer for Hell Motel, a new limited series from the twisted minds behind Slasher. Emmy winner Eric McCormack (Slasher: Ripper) reunites with creators Aaron Martin and Ian Carpenter for the eight-episode series premiering on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 on Shudder and AMC+.
“When Aaron Martin and Ian Carpenter reached out to tell me they had crafted another irredeemable a-hole for me, my response was, ‘where do I sign?'” stated Eric McCormack. “If you loved hating Basil Garvey, prepare to feel an instant disdain for Hemmingway.”
The series also features Paula Brancati, Shaun Benson, Atticus Mitchell, Emmanuel Kabongo, Jim Watson, Genevieve DeGraves, Icesis Couture, Brynn Godenir, and Michelle Nolden.
“Hell Motel sees a group of 10 true crime obsessives invited to the opening weekend of the newly renovated Cold River Motel, the site of a 30-year-old unsolved Satanic Mass Murder. History repeats itself when the guests get stranded and start getting knocked off one by one during a murder spree that grows exponentially more gruesome than the original with each kill.
The description continues, “McCormack takes on the role of Hemmingway, a chef with a wickedly sinister flair, and is joined by fellow motel’s guests Paige (Brancati), a former scream queen actress looking to revive a career that has seemingly left her behind; Crow (Benson), a new-age medium with an apparent connection to the massacre’s victims; Blake (Mitchell), a true crime writer and himself a survivor of a mass killing; Kawayan (Kabongo), a talented artist with a dark focus on murder; Andy (Watson), a bookish academic at the forefront of contemporary true crime studies; and Adriana (DeGraves), a hybristophilic flight attendant with several notorious serial killer notches on her bedpost,” reads Shudder’s synopsis. “Canadian drag queen Icesis Couture also makes a guest appearance as Magenta, a stylish real estate agent who sells the Coldwater Motel to its new owners Ruby (Godenir) and Portia (Nolden).”
Aaron Martin and Ian Carpenter executive produce, with Carpenter serving as showrunner. Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Thomas P. Vitale, and director Adam MacDonald also executive produce.
“With Hell Motel we take a good look in the mirror as both horror fans and horror creators, delving into the allure of a genre of storytelling as old as drama itself. But as any horror fan who’s ever uttered ‘Bloody Mary’ three times into a mirror knows, you’ve got to be careful what you wish for… ,” teased Martin and Carpenter.
Alice Halsey cast in ‘Little House on the Prairie’ (Photo Credit: Joanna Degeneres / Provided by Netflix)
Netflix is revisiting the iconic Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder with a new adaptation of Little House on the Prairie. The books have sold well over 73 million copies, and the upcoming series reflects the continued interest in the world Wilder created back in the 1930s.
The streamer announced Alice Halsey (Lessons in Chemistry) will star in the pivotal role of Laura Ingalls. Per Netflix: “Everyone sees themselves in Laura. That’s why these books endure. Laura is a disruptor. Honest to a fault. Questions authority. She’s our window into this adventure. An American icon in waiting. Forget your modern ideas of childhood—the stakes are high for children living in the 19th century. They have responsibilities—and freedoms—that seem extraordinary in this era of helicopter parenting.
Mixed in with small pleasures and petty disputes with her older sister are true feats of survival and bravery. She is observant, tender, strong-willed, hot-tempered. She resists the bounds of 19th-century ladylike behavior—she likes to run barefoot and feel the sun on her face. She is curious and optimistic and fearless, like her father; resourceful and hardworking and honest, like her mother.
She is quick to call out anyone who is cruel or unjust. She loves fiercely and unapologetically and is utterly devoted to her dog, Jack. She rubs some adults the wrong way—too many hard questions, too much personality, too much energy—but to the people who matter, she’s a bright light. She absorbs every detail she sees around her, collecting them for stories she will someday share with the world.”
Rebecca Sonnenshine (The Boys, Vampire Diaries) will serve as the showrunner and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Dana Fox, Susanna Fogel, Joy Gorman Wettels for Joy Coalition; and Trip Friendly for Friendly Family Productions. Sarah Adina Smith (The Drop) will direct the first episode.
