Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson) declares, “I run a school for young women. We’re not a threat to anyone,” in the full trailer for HBO’s Dune: Prophecy. The trailer debuted during HBO’s panel at the 2024 New York Comic Con, followed by its release online.
HBO previously announced the six-episode season would premiere in November 2024, and now we know the exact date: November 17, 2024. Episodes will air on Sundays at 9pm ET/PT.
“From the expansive universe of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, Dune: Prophecy follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind, and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit,” reads HBO’s official synopsis.
Emily Watson and Olivia Williams in ‘Dune: Prophecy’ (Photo by Attila Szvacsek/HBO)
In addition to Emily Watson, the cast includes Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Mark Strong, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, and Chloe Lea. Jade Anouka, Faoileann Cunningham, Edward Davis, Aoife Hinds, Chris Mason, and Shalom Brune-Franklin also star.
Rounding out the cast are Camilla Beeput, Jihae, Tabu, Charithra Chandran, Jessica Barden, Emma Canning, and Yerin Ha.
Alison Schapker serves as showrunner and executive producer. Jordan Goldberg, Mark Tobey, John Cameron, Matthew King, Scott Z. Burns, and Jon Spaihts also executive produce. Additional executive producers include author Brian Herbert and Frank Herbert estate’s Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert. Executive producer Diane Ademu-John co-developed the series, and Anna Foerster executive produced and directed multiple episodes.
Dune: Prophecy is inspired by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s Sisterhood of Dune.
Season two of AMC’s Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches has landed on a January 5, 2025 premiere date. AMC Networks announced the premiere date during the 2024 New York Comic Con, running October 17-20th at Javits Center.
The network also released five new photos from the upcoming season.
Season two stars Alexandra Daddario as Rowan Fielding, Jack Huston as Lasher, Tongayi Chirisa as Ciprien Grieve, Harry Hamlin as Cortland Mayfair, and Alyssa Jirrels as Moira Mayfair. Esta Spalding is the showrunner and executive produces along with Mark Johnson, Tom Williams, Michelle Ashford, Christopher Rice, and the late Anne Rice.
“Based on Anne Rice’s Lives of the Mayfair Witches, season two of Mayfair Witches continues the journey of Rowan Mayfair (Daddario) after she has unwittingly given birth to the demon Lasher (Huston),” reads AMC’s synopsis. “She is determined to understand what he has become – human or monster? – and to use him to fulfill her purpose as a healer, but when tragedy strikes, she must put aside her own desires and fight to protect her family.”
Alexandra Daddario as Rowan Fielding in ‘Mayfair Witches’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Skip Bolen/AMC)Jack Huston as Lasher in season 2 (Photo Credit: Skip Bolen/AMC)Tongayi Chirisa as Ciprien Grieve in season 2 episode 1 (Photo Credit: Skip Bolen/AMC)Harry Hamlin as Cortland Mayfair in season 2 (Photo Credit: Skip Bolen/AMC)Alyssa Jirrels in season 2 (Photo Credit: Skip Bolen/AMC)
CBS’s FBI: International kicked off season four with the introduction of Jesse Lee Soffer as Wesley “Wes” Mitchell, the new team leader. Season four episode two, “The Other Hard Part,” will find Wes trying hard to fit in with the team. Directed by John Behring from a script by Edgar Castillo, episode two will air on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT.
“The Other Hard Part” Plot: When a U.S. ambassador is taken hostage at a TV station in the Netherlands alongside 70 civilians, the Fly Team is forced to work quickly to find out who they’re up against. Meanwhile, Wes works to earn the respect of his new team.
Jesse Lee Soffer stars as Supervisory Special Agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell, Carter Redwood plays Special Agent Andre Raines, Vinessa Vidotto is Special Agent Cameron Vo, Eva-Jane Willis is Europol Agent Megan “Smitty” Garretson, and Christina Wolfe plays Special Agent Amanda Tate.
FBI: International is the third iteration of the successful FBI brand that follows the elite operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s International Fly Team. Headquartered in Budapest, they travel throughout Europe with the mission of tracking and neutralizing threats against American citizens wherever they may be, putting their lives on the line to protect the U.S. and its people. Newly embedded to the Fly Team is charming and rakish Supervisory Special Agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell, whose impeccable instincts and unconventional tactics deepen his drive to stop at nothing to achieve justice.
Special Agent Andre Raines shines in the field and makes good use of his accounting background in tracking criminal enterprises’ moving money. Special Agent Cameron Vo, a competitive West Point grad, excels at interrogation and strategy and Megan “Smitty” Garretson, a streetwise Europol agent with an extensive undercover background, uses her expertise to liaise with each host country they inhabit. Special Agent Amanda Tate, a confident and tech-savvy intel analyst, stays quick on her feet and remains calm in the midst of chaos. Always at the scene where American interests are at risk, FBI: International is a globe-trotting depiction of law enforcement overseas.
Apple TV+’s officially renewed the Emmy-nominated comedy Shrinking, starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, for a third season. The renewal announcement comes just one day after the premiere of season two.
“I’m so lucky to work on Shrinking with actors, writers, and a crew so talented that they all elevate the material,” said co-creator and executive producer Bill Lawrence. “I’m even luckier that they are people I’d want to spend time with anyway. Huge thanks to Apple TV+ and Warner Bros. for the amazing partnership and support. So grateful we get to keep making this show. Onward!”
In addition to Emmy nominee Jason Segel and Oscar nominee Harrison Ford, the critically acclaimed series stars Emmy nominee Christa Miller, Emmy nominee Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, and Ted McGinley. Ted Lasso‘s Brett Goldstein guest-starred in season two.
Segel, Goldstein, and Bill Lawrence created Shrinking and served as executive producers on season two along with Neil Goldman, James Ponsoldt, Jeff Ingold, Liza Katzer, Randall Winston, Annie Mebane, Rachna Fruchbom, and Brian Gallivan.
“It has been wonderful to watch audiences around the world fall in love with the memorable characters and rich world that Bill, Brett and Jason have created in Shrinking,” said Matt Cherniss, head of programming for Apple TV+. “We are incredibly excited for viewers to see where life takes Jimmy, Paul, Liz, Gabby, Alice, Sean, Brian and Derek next as they continue on their moving, heartwarming, and very funny journey in season three.”
New season two episodes stream on Wednesdays.
“Shrinking follows grieving therapist Jimmy (played by Segel), who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks,” reads Apple TV+’s synopsis. “Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people’s lives … including his own.”
CBS’s FBI season seven episode one bid farewell to Special Agent Tiffany Wallace, played by Katherine Renee Kane. Episode two, “Trusted,” introduces Lisette Olivera as Syd, Scola’s new partner. Directed by Milena Govich from a script by Aaron Ginsburg, episode two airs on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT.
Missy Peregrym stars as Special Agent Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki plays Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, Jeremy Sisto is Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, and Alana De La Garza is Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille. John Boyd plays Special Agent Stuart Scola and Lisette Olivera plays Syd.
“Trusted” Plot: – The team is on the case when a suburban couple is murdered and all forensic evidence points to the home’s previous owner, who is currently serving 10 years in federal prison. Meanwhile, OA reunites with an old military colleague, and Scola tries to welcome a new partner.
FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This elite unit brings to bear all their talents, intellect, and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe. Born into a multigenerational law enforcement family, Special Agent Maggie Bell commits deeply to the people she works with as well as those she protects. Her partner is Special Agent Omar Adom “OA” Zidan, a West Point graduate via Bushwick who spent two years undercover for the DEA before being cherry-picked by the FBI.
Overseeing them is Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille, who operates under intense pressure and has undeniable command authority. The team also includes Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine, the nerve center of the office whose ability to easily relate to and engage with both superiors and subordinates makes him a master motivator. Special Agent Stuart Scola is an Ivy League-educated Wall Streeter-turned-FBI agent. These first-class agents tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime and counterintelligence.
TK and Carlos fans should prepare for an emotional episode with Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star season five episode five, “Thunderstruck.” Episode five will air on Monday, October 21, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT.
Rob Lowe leads the cast as Captain Owen Strand, Ronen Rubinstein stars as T.K., Gina Torres plays Paramedic Captain Tommy Vega, and Jim Parrack is Judd Ryder. Natacha Karam plays Marjan Marwani, Brian Michael Smith is Paul Strickland, Julian Works is Mateo Chavez, Rafael Silva plays Carlos Reyes, and Brianna Baker is Nancy Gillian. Sierra McClain did not return for the fifth season.
“Thunderstruck” Plot: The 126 race into action when a horse barrels into a brewery with an unconscious rider on its back and then to a bus full of tourists all experiencing seizures. Judd introduces Owen to Wyatt’s mother Marlene. Carlos and T.K. start couples counseling when Carlos’s investigation into his father’s murder becomes all-consuming.
9-1-1 Lone Star Season 5 Description, Courtesy of Fox:
9-1-1: Lone Star follows members of Austin’s 126 Fire Department led by Captain Owen Strand who, along with his adult son, T.K., moved to Texas to help rebuild the firehouse which had experienced a tragedy of its own. His team of diverse and qualified first responders include widowed Paramedic Captain Tommy Vega, Judd Ryder, who was the sole survivor of Austin’s original 126 house after a rescue call ended in tragedy; Marjan Marwani, an adrenaline junkie and badass firefighter who also is a devout Muslim; Paul Strickland, a transgender male firefighter, who bravely decided to transition on the job in Chicago and has a gift for observation worthy of Sherlock Holmes; and rookie firefighter Mateo Chavez.
Settling into his new home, T.K. caught the eye of police officer Carlos Reyes and the two began a romantic relationship eventually marrying in the season four finale. T.K hung up his firefighter helmet to become a full-time paramedic under Tommy’s guidance and works closely with fellow paramedic Nancy Gillian.
In the upcoming fifth season, Captains Strand and Vega, along with the 126 team, race into action when in a multi-episodic opening storyline, a catastrophic train derailment endangers several lives including some of their own. With Judd resigning from the 126 to take care of his recently handicapped son Wyatt (Jackson Pace), Owen must find a new lieutenant to replace Judd and has a difficult decision ahead of him when both Marjan and Paul apply for the promotion. Tommy is ready to take the next step in her relationship, but she finds the road to happiness is filled with obstacles.
On his 30th birthday, T.K. gets a surprise visit from someone from his past that could change his and Carlos’ lives forever. Now officially husband and husband, T.K. and Carlos’ marriage is put to the test when Carlos becomes obsessed with solving his father’s murder.
Dateline NBC‘s doing a deep dive into the Karen Read case with the October 18, 2024 two-hour special, “The Night of the Nor’easter.” Airing at 9pm ET/PT, the special will feature new interviews with Karen Read and her attorney, Alan Jackson.
“I couldn’t see his face or his hair, but I knew it was him. I knew it was something that didn’t belong on that lawn,” says Read in an interview describing the night Boston police officer John O’Keefe died and finding his body. Read and O’Keefe were in a relationship at the time of his death. O’Keefe was supposedly killed when Read ran over him with her SVU and just left him outside in the freezing cold.
The Dateline special includes attorney Jackson discussing the defense’s claim that Read was framed by the cops.
“The broadcast gives viewers a front-row seat inside the tense courtroom where dramatic moments that captivated the nation played out,” reads NBC’s synopsis. “The episode also includes interviews with John O’Keefe’s friends and family and explores the toll that his death and the trial have taken on them, including harassment they endured from Read’s supporters outside the courthouse.”
Read’s first trial ended in a mistrial in July 2024. She’s expected to go on trial again in January 2025.
Morris Chestnut’s new series Watson will make its debut following the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, January 26, 2024. The CBS medical drama is targeting a 7pm PT/10pm ET launch, but that could be delayed because of post-game coverage.
The first season’s regular time slot is Sundays at 10pm ET/PT, beginning on February 16th.
“Watson takes place six months after the death of the titular character’s friend and partner Sherlock Holmes at the hands of Moriarty. The show stars Morris Chestnut as Dr. John Watson, who resumes his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders. Watson’s old life isn’t done with him, though – Moriarty and Watson are set to write their own chapter of a story that has fascinated audiences for more than a century,” reads CBS’s synopsis. “Watson is a medical show with a strong investigative spine, featuring a modern version of one of history’s greatest detectives as he turns his attention from solving crimes to solving medical mysteries.”
The series also stars Eve Harlow, Peter Mark Kendall, Ritchie Coster, Inga Schlingmann, and Rochelle Aytes. Craig Sweeny is the showrunner and serves as executive producer. (Sweeny also wrote the first episode.) Additional executive producers include series star Morris Chestnut, Sallie Patrick, Larry Teng, Shäron Moalem MD, PhD, Aaron Kaplan, and Brian Morewitz.
Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice revisit the Creep franchise with the first series addition, The Creep Tapes. The six-episode horror series misses the Halloween window by a few weeks, premiering on November 15, 2024 on AMC+ and Shudder.
“A little over 10 years ago, Patrick Brice and I spent a week together in my cabin with a small digital camera. We emerged with a found footage horror film that was so wildly strange and uncomfortable we assumed no one would see it,” said Duplass. “To be continuing this unholy legacy in the series format is a true nightmare come true.”
Duplass stars in the series and serves as a writer and executive producer. Brice writes, executive produces, and directs all six episodes.
“The Creep Tapes continues to unravel the mind of a secluded serial killer who lures videographers into his world with the promise of a paid job documenting his life,” reads Shudder’s synopsis. “Unfortunately, as the tape rolls, the killer’s questionable intentions surface with his increasingly odd behavior and the victims will learn they may have made a deadly mistake.”
Mel Eslyn, Jay Duplass and Chris Donlon also serve as executive producers. The series is produced by Duplass Brothers Productions and Shudder.
“Patrick and Mark have given us two of the most unique and exciting takes on psychological horror with Creep and Creep 2, both of which amassed a huge fan following and camp audience. We’re thrilled to be working alongside them in expanding this popular franchise with six thrilling episodes that will unfold more of this twisted story and Peachfuzz antics,” stated Courtney Thomasma, EVP of streaming for AMC Networks.
Creep was released in June 2015 and grossed $7.4 million, with Creep 2 following in 2017.
One of the biggest trends in 21st-century horror movies is “the curse movie.” And with so many of them flooding the market, of course some are going to be good and some are going to be bad. Writer/director Parker Finn’s 2022 offering Smile ranks up there with The Ring and It Follows as one of the best of the bunch. So, in another 21st-century trend, it’s no surprise that it would get a sequel – the aptly titled Smile 2.
Smile 2 is about a pop starlet named Skye Riley (Aladdin’s Naomi Scott) who, through events that can be traced back to the first movie, winds up with the dreaded curse. Skye is constantly tormented by visions of people around her smiling wide and threatening her, and the only way to pass on the curse is by (minor spoiler for those who have not seen Smile) committing suicide in front of a witness who will then be saddled with said curse. Of course, Skye has a problem believing all of this, and given her dark past riddled with tragedy and drug addiction, those around her think she is just having a breakdown. Or worse, a relapse.
Basically, Smile 2 is Parker Finn rehashing what he did with Smile, but with a different set of characters and in a different stage in the curse. The concept is the same, the execution is the same, and some of the set pieces are even the same. This isn’t always a negative – Smile was a pretty effective movie and Smile 2 pretty much follows the same formula. It’s just that it gives the viewer the feeling that they’ve seen it all before.
Parker Finn’s strength in Smile 2 lies squarely with his use of imagery. While the comic creepiness of the smiling demon motif isn’t used to quite the same effect as it was in the first movie, there are still plenty of horrifying segments. Finn is a disciple of James Wan’s keep-it-quiet-until-it-goes-BOO! philosophy, and the jump scares in Smile 2 reflect this.
Finn is also great at setting an audience up to be scared, and while Smile 2 doesn’t always hit, when it does, it hits hard. One scene where Skye is being attacked by her backup dance troupe – all smiling, of course – demonstrates how absurdly terrifying the concept behind the Smile movies can be. Aside from the obvious smiling stalkers, the subject of the curse is constantly questioning their own sanity as well. It’s a double-edged threat.
Aside from it just repeating the same plot points as Smile (which, let’s be real, happens more often than not with horror sequels), the biggest weakness in Smile 2 is a frustrating lack of backstory. At a bit over two hours, Smile 2 already runs a bit long for what it is. However, there are a handful of unexplored subplots such as Skye’s relationship with her estranged bestie Gemma (Dylan Gelula from Shameless) and the media’s portrayal of Skye’s “breakdown” and “relapse” that could be fleshed out more. It feels odd to say it, given its current length, but Smile 2 could stand to be about 20 minutes longer with a bit more exposition and exploration.
There’s nothing subtle about Smile 2. It goes for the jugular on a superficial level, and there’s thinly-veiled subtext about the pressures of teen pop stardom tossed in for a bit of social cred. As far as horror sequels go, it’s passable. But the concept feels like it can’t really support a franchise as well as, say, the Final Destination concept can. Let’s all hope that Parker Finn moves on because the guy knows how to make a movie. We just need him to come up with a new idea.
GRADE: C
MPAA Rating: R for language throughout, grisly images, drug use, and strong violent content
