Yesterday, horrormeister Stephen King tweeted: “SALEM’S LOT trailer is coming. It’s a good one.” And now that the trailer has arrived, it’s confirmed King was telling the truth. There’s a lot packed into the two-minute trailer, and it effectively captures the creepy, suspenseful, and terrifying vibe.
The film stars Lewis Pullman as Ben Mears, Alfre Woodard as Dr. Cody, Makenzie Leigh as Susan Norton, and Bill Camp as Matthew Burke. Spencer Treat Clark plays Mike Ryerson, Pilou Asbæk is Straker, and John Benjamin Hickey is Father Callahan.
“Author Ben Mears returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration for his next book only to discover his hometown is being preyed upon by a bloodthirsty vampire,” reads Max’s synopsis. Gary Dauberman (Annabelle Comes Home) adapted Stephen King’s bestselling 1975 novel and directs. Dauberman’s also an executive producer along with Mark Wolper, Vertigo’s Roy Lee, and Atomic Monster’s James Wan and Michael Clear.
Stephen King’s popular vampire novel was adapted into a miniseries in 1979 starring David Soul, James Mason, Fred Willard, and Bonnie Bedelia. And in 2004, Rob Lowe, Andre Braugher, Samantha Mathis, and Donald Sutherland starred in a two-episode miniseries. This theatrical adaptation was filmed back in 2021 and originally targeted an October 2022 theatrical release. Those plans were scrapped, and instead, Salem’s Lot will premiere on Max on Thursday, October 3, 2024.
Poster for ‘Salem’s Lot’ (Courtesy of New Line Cinema/Max)
The Dexter: Original Sin teaser features the familiar voice of Michael C. Hall explaining that it takes a village to raise a killer. The teaser shows brief snippets of the younger versions of Dexter characters and ends with the reveal of the series’ premiere date.
Paramount+’s prequel to the Dexter franchise will debut on Friday, December 13, 2024 on Paramount+ with Showtime and December 15th on Showtime linear.
Patrick Gibson leads the cast as a young Dexter. Molly Brown plays his sister, Debra, and Christian Slater stars as their father, Harry. The 10-episode season also features Patrick Dempsey as Aaron Spencer, James Martinez as Angel Batista, Christina Milian as Maria LaGuerta, Alex Shimizu as Vince Masuka, and Reno Wilson as Bobby Watt. Emmy winner Sarah Michelle Gellar guest stars as Tanya Martin.
Patrick Gibson as Dexter Morgan and Christian Slater as Harry Morgan in ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ (Photo Credit: Patrick Wymore/Paramount+ with Showtime)
“Set in 1991 Miami, Dexter: Original Sin follows Dexter (Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry (Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcement’s radar,” reads Paramount+’s synopsis. “This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department.”
Executive producers include showrunner Clyde Phillips (Dexter), Scott Reynolds (Jessica Jones), Michael C. Hall (Six Feet Under), Mary Leah Sutton (Resident Evil), Tony Hernandez (Emily in Paris) and Lilly Burns (Russian Doll). The prequel’s produced by SHOWTIME Studios, Counterpart Studios, and Robert Lloyd Lewis (The Lincoln Lawyer). Michael Lehmann (Heathers) is a directing executive producer.
Prepare for many more big-name guest stars on CBS’s Elsbeth season two. Series star Carrie Preston teased, “Just wait until you see this season’s murderers…and they are all slaying it,” on Twitter. And season two is starting off by setting the bar high, bringing in Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Awards winner Nathan Lane to play an obsessed opera lover.
Season two premieres with “Subscription to Murder” directed by Nancy Hower from a script by Jonathan Tolins. Episode one will air on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 10pm ET/PT.
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.
“Subscription to Murder” Plot: When a womanizing finance executive is found stabbed to death after a night at the opera, Elsbeth suspects an obsessed opera lover (Lane) was driven to murder because of a ringing cell phone. Meanwhile, Elsbeth, Captain Wagner and Kaya must adjust to changes in the precinct as the consequences of Noonan’s wrongdoing continue to loom.
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).
Taylor Swift accepts the Video of the Year award for “Fortnight” during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)
Taylor Swift continues to dominate in 2024, adding seven more MTV Video Music Awards wins to her resume. Swift took home seven wins, including Video of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best Collaboration (with Post Malone), Best Pop, Best Direction, Best Editing, and Song of the Summer. The 2024 wins bring her VMAs total to 30, breaking Beyonce’s record of 25. Swift also became the first artist to win the Video of the Year award five times.
Eminem also set a record, becoming the male artist with the most solo wins. And Annita tied the record for the most Best Latin wins with three.
Megan Thee Stallion hosted this year’s VMAs which took place at the UBS Arena in New York on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.
2024 VMAs Nominees and Winners:
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records
Billie Eilish – “LUNCH” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Doja Cat – “Paint The Town Red” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
SZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment
Eminem – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
SZA – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records WINNER: Taylor Swift – Republic Records
SONG OF THE YEAR
Beyoncé – “TEXAS HOLD ‘EM” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records
Jack Harlow – “Lovin On Me” – Generation Now / Atlantic Records
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records WINNER: Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner Records
BEST NEW ARTIST
Benson Boone – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records WINNER: Chappell Roan – Island
Gracie Abrams – Interscope Records
Shaboozey – American Dogwood / EMPIRE
Teddy Swims – Warner Records
Tyla – Epic Records
MTV PUSH PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
August 2023: Kaliii – “Area Codes” – Atlantic Records
September 2023: GloRilla – “Lick or Sum” – CMG / Interscope Records
October 2023: Benson Boone – “In The Stars” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records
November 2023: Coco Jones – “ICU” – Def Jam
December 2023: Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA Records
January 2024: Jessie Murph – “Wild Ones” – Columbia Records
February 2024: Teddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner Records
March 2024: Chappell Roan – “Red Wine Supernova” – Island
April 2024: Flyana Boss – “yeaaa” – vnclm_/ Atlantic Records
May 2024: Laufey – “Goddess” – Laufey / AWAL WINNER: June 2024: LE SSERAFIM – “EASY” – SOURCE MUSIC / Geffen Records
July 2024: The Warning – “Automatic Sun” – Lava / Republic Records
BEST COLLABORATION
Drake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic Records
GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be” – CMG / Interscope Records
Jessie Murph ft. Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones” – Columbia Records
Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen Records
Post Malone ft. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help” – Mercury / Republic / Big Loud WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records
BEST POP
Camila Cabello – Geffen / Interscope Records
Dua Lipa – Warner Records
Olivia Rodrigo – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
Tate McRae – RCA Records WINNER: Taylor Swift – Republic Records
BEST HIP-HOP
Drake ft. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic Records WINNER: Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
GloRilla – “Yeah Glo!” – CMG / Interscope Records
Gunna – “fukumean” – Young Stoner Life Records / 300 Entertainment
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions
Travis Scott ft. Playboi Carti – “FE!N” – Cactus Jack / Epic Records
BEST R&B
Alicia Keys – “Lifeline” – AK Records, under exclusive license to gamma.
Muni Long – “Made For Me” – Def Jam WINNER: SZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
Tyla – “Water” – FAX Records / Epic Records
USHER, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good” – mega / gamma.
Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA Records
BEST ALTERNATIVE WINNER: Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records
Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit
Hozier – “Too Sweet” – Columbia Records
Imagine Dragons – “Eyes Closed” – KIDinaKorner / Interscope Records
Linkin Park – “Friendly Fire” – This Compilation / Warner Records
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control (Live)” – Warner Records
BEST LATIN WINNER: Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Bad Bunny – “MONACO” – Rimas Entertainment
KAROL G – “MI EX TENÍA RAZÓN” – Bichota / Interscope Records
Myke Towers – “LALA” – Warner Music Latina
Peso Pluma & Anitta – “BELLAKEO” – Double P Records
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching The Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment
Shakira & Cardi B – “Puntería” – Sony Music US Latin
BEST AFROBEATS
Ayra Starr ft. Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song” – Mavin / Republic
Burna Boy – “City Boys” – Spaceship / Bad Habit / Atlantic Records
Chris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational” – Chris Brown Entertainment / RCA Records
Tems – “Love Me JeJe” – Since ’93 / RCA Records WINNER: Tyla – “Water” – FAX Records / Epic Records
USHER, Pheelz – “Ruin” – mega / gamma.
BEST K-POP
Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen Records WINNER: LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records
NCT Dream – “Smoothie” – SM Entertainment / Virgin Music Group
NewJeans – “Super Shy” – ADOR / Geffen Records
Stray Kids – “LALALALA” – JYP Entertainment / Imperial / Republic Records
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Deja vu” – BIGHIT MUSIC / IMPERIAL / Republic Records
VIDEO FOR GOOD
Alexander Stewart – “if you only knew” – FAE grp WINNER: Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For (From The Motion Picture “Barbie”)” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic Records
Joyner Lucas & Jelly Roll – “Best For Me” – Twenty Nine Music Group
RAYE – “Genesis.” – Human Re Sources
Tyler Childers – “In Your Love” – Hickman Holler Records / RCA Records
BEST DIRECTION
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records – Directed by
Christian Breslauer
Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit – Directed by Alex Lockett & Margaret Qualley
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records – Directed by Rich Lee
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions – Directed by Daniel Iglesias Jr.
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island – Directed by Bardia Zeinali WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – Directed by Taylor Swift
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY WINNER: Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records – Cinematography
by Anatol Trofimov
Charli xcx – “Von dutch” – Atlantic Records – Cinematography by Jeff Bierman
Dua Lipa – “Illusion” – Warner Records – Cinematography by Nikita Kuzmenko
Olivia Rodrigo – “obsessed” – Geffen Records – Cinematography by Marz Miller
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching The Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment – Cinematography by Camilo Monsalve
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – Cinematography by Rodrigo
Prieto
BEST EDITING
Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment – Editing by Nick Yumul
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records – Editing by Luis
Caraza Peimbert
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records – Editing by David Checel
LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records – Editing by Nik Kohler
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island – Editing by Jai Shukla WINNER: Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – Editing by Chancler Haynes
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Bleachers – Tiny Moves – Dirty Hit – Choreography by Margaret Qualley WINNER: Dua Lipa – “Houdini” – Warner Records – Choreography by Charm La’Donna
LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching The Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment – Choreography
by Felix ‘Fefe’ Burgos
Tate McRae – “Greedy” – RCA Records – Choreography by Sean Bankhead
Troye Sivan – “Rush” – Capitol Records – Choreography by Sergio Reis, Mauro Van De Kerkhof
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ariana Grande – “the boy is mine” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Digital Axis WINNER: Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Synapse Virtual
Production, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic, Flawless Post
Justin Timberlake – “Selfish” – RCA Records – “Selfish” – RCA Records – Visual Effects by Candice Dragonas
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions – Visual Effects by Mathematic
Olivia Rodrigo – “get him back!” – Geffen Records – Visual Effects by Cooper Vacheron, Preston
Mohr, Karen Arakelian, Justin Johnson
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Parliament
BEST ART DIRECTION
Charli xcx – “360” – Atlantic Records – Art Direction by Grace Surnow
LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloyd Co. / RCA Records – Art Direction by Pongsan Thawatwichian WINNER: Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions – Art Direction by Brittany Porter
Olivia Rodrigo – “bad idea right?” – Geffen Records – Art Direction by Nicholas des Jardins
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island – Art Direction by Nicholas des Jardins
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records – Art Direction by Ethan Tobman
2024 VMAs SOCIAL CATEGORIES:
BEST TRENDING VIDEO
Megan Thee Stallion ft. Yuki Chiba – “Mamushi” – Hot Girl Productions
BEST GROUP
SEVENTEEN – PLEDIS Entertainment / Geffen Records
SONG OF THE SUMMER
Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records
VMAs MOST ICONIC PERFORMANCE (+VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD WINNER)
Katy Perry – “Roar”
CBS’s Blue Bloods kicks off season 14 part two with episode 11, “Life Sentence.” Stacy Keach, Peter Hermann, and Will Hochman guest in the first of the eight new episodes that are left in the final season. Directed by Jackeline Tejada from a script by Siobhan Byrne O’Connor, episode 11 airs Friday, October 18, 2024 at 10pm ET/PT.
Tom Selleck returns to lead the final season’s cast as Frank Reagan. Donnie Wahlberg stars as Danny Reagan, Bridget Moynahan plays Erin Reagan, Will Estes is Jamie Reagan, Len Cariou is Henry Reagan, Marisa Ramirez plays Maria Baez, and Vanessa Ray stars as Eddie Janko.
“Life Sentence” Plot: The Reagans’ professional lives converge when an allegation of jury tampering against Erin intertwines with Danny and Baez’s homicide case and Eddie’s bond to a child murder witness. Frank clashes with his friend and confidant Archbishop Kearns over the death penalty. When Jamie’s car is stolen, he joins forces with his nephew, Joe Hill, to recover it.
Blue Bloods is a drama about a multi-generational family of cops dedicated to New York City law enforcement. Frank Reagan is the New York Police Commissioner, and heads both the police force and the Reagan brood. He runs his department as diplomatically as he runs his family, even when dealing with the politics that plagued his unapologetically bold father, Henry, during his stint as chief. A source of pride and concern for Frank is his eldest son, Danny, a seasoned detective, family man, and Iraq War vet who, on occasion, uses dubious tactics to solve cases with his partner and new mother, Detective Maria Baez.
Erin, the middle daughter, is a New York assistant D.A. who serves as the legal compass for her siblings and father, while also pursuing a run for district attorney. Jamie is the youngest Reagan, a Harvard Law graduate and the family’s golden boy. Unable to deny the family tradition, Jamie decided to give up a lucrative future in law and follow in the family footsteps as a cop. He’s found a friend and ally in his wife, Eddie, who keeps him on his toes, and has very different reasons than the Reagans for joining the police force.
Poster for Oxygen True Crime’s ‘Dateline: The Smoking Gun’
Oxygen True Crime’s Dateline: The Smoking Gun focuses on the key pieces of evidence that cracked cases. The new addition to the Dateline franchise spotlights the moments in investigations where the “smoking gun” evidence is found.
Oxygen’sDateline: Secrets Uncovered has drawn in 15.2 million viewers and is Oxygen’s highest-reaching program. Dateline: Unforgettable pulled in 9.9 million viewers and ranks third among Oxygen’s offerings.
Dateline‘s Andrea Canning hosts the new series set to premiere on Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT. The series is produced by NBC News, with Liz Cole serving as senior executive producer and Paul Ryan executive producing
“Dateline: The Smoking Gun is a hunt for clues as detectives relentlessly pursue the critical piece of evidence that ultimately cracks the case. Each investigation is packed with twists—false leads, wrong suspects, dead ends—until police finally uncover the smoking gun and arrive at justice,” reads Oxygen True Crime’s synopsis. “Stories investigated this season include a disappearance involving a young film director, two prosecutors killed in a small Texas town, and a serial killer who must be stopped before the next victim is murdered.”
Dateline: The Smoking Gun Episode Guide
“In Cold Blood” (Thursday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. ET/PT; Two-Hour Special)
When Kim Dorsey was found murdered in her bedroom, the chaotic crime scene left more questions than answers. A single out-of-place item would be the key to discovering the killer’s identity if investigators could find the evidence.
“Vendetta” (Thursday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT; Two-Hour Special)
Three people were shot dead in a small Texas town, including two respected prosecutors. A clue that would connect the dots remained a mystery until an eagle-eyed investigator made a stunning discovery.
“The Unusual Suspect” (Thursday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT)
A cold-blooded serial killer was lurking in the woods, stalking his next victim. As Det. Bernie Nelson investigated, puzzling evidence led him to more questions until one clue helped crack the case wide open.
“Deadly House of Cards” (Thursday, Oct. 24 at 8 p.m. ET/PT; 2-Hour Special)
Det. Bill Clark was investigating a disappearance when a trail of clues led him to a young film director. Clark worried that the mystery was a hoax staged by a master storyteller. Turns out the script was much darker.
Guitarist Randy Bachman of the ’70s rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive is the focus of the 2024 documentary Takin’ Care of Business. The Canadian band scored success with hits including “Takin’ Care of Business,” “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” “Let It Ride,” and “Roll On Down the Highway,” and hit #1 on the charts with their 1974 album Not Fragile.
Bachman left the band, which originally consisted of bassist Fred Turner, drummer Robbie Bachman, and guitarist Blair Thornton, in 1977. Since then, there have been multiple iterations of the group. In 2009, Randy Bachman and Fred Turner formed Bachman & Turner, and in the fall of 2023, Bachman-Turner Overdrive reunited for a tour.
Writer/director Tyler Measom’s new documentary, which will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, focuses on Randy Bachman. Randy, along with Tal Bachman, KoKo Bachman, Lorelei Bachman, Bannatyne Bachman Matson, Takeshi Kaneda, and William Long, are featured in the behind-the-scenes look at the rocker’s life.
Randy Bachman in a scene from ‘Takin’ Care of Business’
“Randy Bachman’s 1957 Gretsch guitar was magic. The rocker credits it for his successful mega-bands, The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. When it was stolen, his life spiraled,” reads the official synopsis. “Takin’ Care of Business chronicles Randy’s subsequent search for the things he lost—including his beloved guitar—and how he got them back.”
Russell Wayne Groves served as a producer, with Tyler Measom, Robert Schwartzman, Rick Krim, Randy Bachman, Tal Bachman Cole Harper, Jonathan Gordon, and David Ruttenberg executive producing.
Yerin Ha joins the ‘Bridgerton’ season 4 cast (Photo Credit: Nick Walters)
Yerin Ha, soon to be seen in Dune: Prophecy, has joined the cast of Bridgerton season four as Sophie Baek aka the Lady in Silver. Ha will be a series regular in the upcoming season, playing a maid who catches Benedict’s eye.
Netflix offers this description of Ha’s character: “Sophie Baek has been forced to spend much of her life working as a maid for the most demanding employer in the ton. But the resourceful Sophie always finds a way to persevere through her circumstances — which will drastically change after she disguises herself to attend Violet Bridgerton’s masquerade ball and meets Benedict Bridgerton.”
Speaking with Netflix’s Tudum, Yerin Ha talked about what she loved about Sophie. “What drew me to Sophie was that she immediately has obstacles — something that she constantly has to overcome,” said Ha. “Whether it’s this battle around social status or trying to hide her feelings from Benedict.”
Ha also spoke about the fact that Sophie and Benedict connect at a masquerade ball. “There’s this theme with masks that was running throughout all of my audition scenes,” explained Ha. “When does Sophie put on this mask to cover her emotions? Or vice versa, when does she take it off, and when does she soften up? Playing with those [questions] is just really fun.”
The third season starred Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington, Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton, Claudia Jessie as Eloise Bridgerton, Luke Thompson as Benedict Bridgerton, Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte, and Adjoa Andoh as Lady Danbury. Ruth Gemmell starred as Violet Bridgerton, Lorraine Ashbourne as Mrs. Varley, Hannah Dodd as Francesca Bridgerton, Simone Ashley as Kate Sharma, and Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton.
Harriet Cains played Philipa Featherington, Bessie Carter as Prudence Featherington, Jessica Madsen as Cressida Cowper, Florence Hunt as Hyacinth Bridgerton, Martins Imhangbe as Will Mondrich, and Will Tilston played Gregory Bridgerton. The season three ensemble also included Polly Walker as Portia Featherington, Hugh Sachs as Brimsley, Emma Naomi as Alice Mondrich, Kathryn Drysdale as Genevieve Delacroix, and Sam Phillips as Lord Debling. Julie Andrews returned as the voice of Lady Whistledown.
“The fourth season of Bridgerton turns its focus to bohemian second son Benedict (Luke Thompson),” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “Despite his elder and younger brothers both being happily married, Benedict is loath to settle down — until he meets a captivating Lady in Silver at his mother’s masquerade ball.”
Jess Brownell guides the eight-episode fourth season as showrunner and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, Tom Verica, and Chris Van Dusen.
CBS’s Fire Country returns for season three on October 18, 2024 with the action picking up at Gabriela and Diego’s wedding. Will they actually exchange I dos before an emergency interrupts the nuptials? One of the first photos from the new season shows blood on Gabriela’s dress, but she appears to be okay.
Season three kicks off with “What the Bride Said” directed by Bill Purple from a script by Tia Napolitano. New episodes of season three will air on Fridays at 9pm ET/PT.
Max Thieriot stars as Bode, Billy Burke plays Vince, Kevin Alejandro is Manny, and Diane Farr is Sharon. Stephanie Arcila plays Gabriela, Jordan Calloway is Jake, Jules Latimer is Eve, and Rafael de la Fuente is Diego.
“What the Bride Said” Plot: In the midst of Gabriela and Diego’s wedding, a helicopter crash ignites chaos and the team immediately jumps into action to stop fires and help victims.
For fans who live in or near Nashville, CBS will be hosting a special two-night interactive fan experience on October 3 and 4. The event’s free to adults 21 and over, but you must RSVP to attend via thisisbookable.com/firecountry.
The fan event will feature live music, activations, and a special preview of the new season. Ben Chapman, Alyssa Flaherty, Matt Koziol, and Madison Kozak are confirmed to perform on October 3rd. October 4’s performers include Dawson Anderson, Caitlyn Smith, Maura Streppa, and Adam Wakefield.
CBS hasn’t released a new season three synopsis with Bode now released from his sentence, so let’s look back at season two’s description:
“Fire Country stars Max Thieriot as Bode Leone, a young convict seeking redemption and a shortened prison sentence by joining a prison release firefighting program in Northern California, where he and other inmates are partnered with elite firefighters to extinguish massive, unpredictable wildfires across the region. It’s a high-risk, high-reward assignment, and the heat is turned up when Bode is assigned to the program in his rural hometown, where he was once a golden all-American son until his troubles began.
Years ago, Bode burned down everything in his life, leaving town with a big secret. Now he’s back, with the rap sheet of a criminal and the audacity to believe in a chance for redemption with Cal Fire.”
As the modern horror powerhouse that it is, Blumhouse has Universal money behind it. Because of this fact and the brand’s proven track record, they are able to seemingly release movies left and right. And their latest release is Speak No Evil.
Speak No Evil is about an American couple living in London named Ben and Louise (Argo’s Scoot McNairy and Tully’s Mackenzie Davis) who, while vacationing in Italy with their daughter, Agnes (Alix West Lefler from Riverdale), meet another British couple named Paddy and Ciara (Split’s James McAvoy and The Nightingale’s Aisling Franciosi) who are there with their son, Ant (Dan Hough from Hollyoaks). The couples hit it off, and the charming Paddy invites Ben and Louise to come and spend a weekend with his family on their farm. Initially reluctant, they wind up accepting the invitation, but soon after they arrive, they discover that something is off about their hosts.
Speak No Evil is an American remake of a 2022 Danish/Dutch film of the same name from director Christian Tafdrup and his cowriter/brother, Mads (who also did 2017’s A Horrible Woman). Writer/director James Watkins (The Woman in Black, Eden Lake) follows the Tafdrups’ script fairly closely for the first two acts, calling upon the same concepts, themes, and plot points. The third act is where Watkins gets creative, giving the dark and nihilistic ending of the original an Americanized, “Hollywood” makeover.
The reason that Watkins does this is clear – not only does it give the movie more of an action-oriented, fight-or-flight feel, but it prevents criticism that his movie is simply a shot-for-shot remake of the original made in English with top-name actors (see Michael Haneke’s Funny Games).
Speaking of top-name actors, the cast in Speak No Evil is terrific. James McAvoy again proves that he is one of his generation’s biggest talents with his creepy, smiling-to-your-face portrayal of Paddy. Mackenzie Davis is equally good as his foil, the fiercely maternal, anything-but-helpless damsel Louise. Scoot McNairy’s Ben is the opposite of Paddy, an insecure and awkward man who seems to never do anything right. Aisling Franciosi plays her accomplice role with just enough sensitivity to almost garner sympathy for her conniving character. Last, but certainly not least, the kids, Alix West Lefler and Dan Hough, are note-perfect with their performances. The cast is a definite upgrade from the original.
At its core, Speak No Evil is basically a home invasion movie where the invaders are actually the homeowners, making their guests just comfortable enough to let down their guard before they strike. And the striking is subtle. At one point, a character likens what Paddy and Ciara do to a cat playing with its food. The game for them is the chase, which makes Speak No Evil a devilishly captivating watch for the audience.
The horror in Speak No Evil is in the fact that it seems like it could really happen. Everyone likes to think that they’d behave differently if it were them – that they’d not cower in confusion like Ben or not give in to their partner’s indifference like Louise – but in reality, who knows? And that’s what makes it scary. What if it was you in this situation? Would you be able to protect your family, or would you just let this happen?
Speak No Evil is the right way to remake a horror movie, and not just for a Blumhouse production. Sure, some will think James Watkins ruined the ending, just as others will think that the first two-thirds of the movie sticks too close to the original. But Watkins manages to capture the mood and atmosphere of the original movie while still making it his own. Watkins puts a stamp on Speak No Evil that tells the world that he respects the original, but that it needs to respect him, too.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: R for some strong violence, language, some sexual content and brief drug use
Release Date: September 13, 2024
Running Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Studio: Universal Pictures
