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Paramount+ to Bring Star Trek, TMNT, and ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ to SDCC

By
Rebecca Murray
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Ethan Peck in first photo from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3
Ethan Peck as Spock in ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ season 3 (Photo Credit: Marni Grossman / Paramount+)

Paramount+’s Star Trek universe will be well represented at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con. The streamer’s hosting panels for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and Star Trek: Section 31 during this year’s Comic-Con.

The 2024 SDCC marks the first time Paramount+ is setting up a special “Star Trek Menagerie” booth. Per Paramount+: Behold the “Star Trek Menagerie” booth on the convention floor, displaying creatures across renowned Star Trek properties. Come one and all to get an up-close look at exciting specimens from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Picard, and the original Star Trek series. Become part of the Menagerie yourself as you enter the human display for an immersive photo opportunity. (Booth #3529)

In addition, Paramount+’s Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Paramount+ with Showtime’s Dexter: Original Sin will be heading to SDCC with panels featuring the shows’ casts. Plus, details on The Lodge activation and Paramount Passport are included below the panel descriptions.

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Poster
Poster for ‘Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ (Photo credit: Paramount+)

PARAMOUNT+ SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON PANELS

TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES – Thursday, July 25, 2:15 – 3:15 PM PT, Room: 6BCF
Cowabunga! From the studios that brought audiences the Mutant Mayhem film, the all-new Paramount+ original series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles explores the adventures of everyone’s favorite pizza-loving heroes as they emerge from the sewers and onto the streets of NYC. Join the voices of Leo, Raph, Donnie, Mikey and special guests, as well as series producers, for an exclusive panel featuring never-before-seen content moderated by host, writer, podcaster and stand-up comedian Claire Lim.

DEXTER: ORIGINAL SIN – Friday, July 26, 5:45-6:45 PM PT, Ballroom 20.
Dexter: Original Sin cast, showrunner, and executive producers discuss the upcoming prequel to the fan-favorite series Dexter. Join showrunner and executive producer Clyde Phillips, executive producer Scott Reynolds and cast members Christian Slater (Harry Morgan), Patrick Gibson (Dexter Morgan), and Molly Brown (Debra Morgan) as they share what to expect from the new series and unveil a few exciting surprises. Moderated by Dexter: Original Sin special guest star Sarah Michelle Gellar.

STAR TREK RETURNS TO HALL H – Saturday, July 27, 1:45-3:15 PM PT
The fan-favorite Star Trek universe panel returns to San Diego Comic-Con, featuring exclusive back-to-back conversations with cast and producers from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and Star Trek: Section 31, a Hall H welcome to new cast members from Star Trek: Section 31, plus reveals and surprises you won’t want to miss! Moderated by award-winning filmmaker, director and executive producer Justin Simien.

  • Star Trek: Strange New Worlds cast members scheduled to appear include Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn and Ethan Peck, alongside executive producers Alex Kurtzman, Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers.
  • Star Trek: Lower Decks will feature voice cast members Jack Quaid, Tawny Newsome, Noël Wells and Jerry O’Connell, along with creator and executive producer Mike McMahan and executive producer Alex Kurtzman.
  • Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will feature executive producers and co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau.
  • Star Trek: Section 31 will have its Hall H debut with cast members Omari Hardwick, Sam Richardson and Kacey Rohl, along with executive producer Alex Kurtzman and director Olatunde Osunsanmi.
Paramount+ SDCC The Lodge
Paramount+ announces 2024 SDCC The Lodge activation

PARAMOUNT+’S THE LODGE ACTIVATION

Paramount+’s The Lodge will return for a second year to San Diego’s Gaslamp District. On the seventh stop of its 2024 cross-country tour, The Lodge will immerse guests in activations featuring more titles and iconic franchises than ever before. Step onto a Star Trek starship; celebrate the 25th anniversary of Nickelodeon’s Spongebob Squarepants by exploring Bikini Bottom’s Jellyfish Fields; jump into the whimsical world of IF and be paired with your very own IF companion; and grab a slice with the heroes in a half-shell at the Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizza parlor. Additional experiences will feature Ghosts, Criminal Minds: Evolution, Tulsa King, Ink Master, and CBS Sports.

Location: Happy Does Bar, 340 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101. Operating hours: Wednesday, July 24 from 6–10 PM; Thursday, July 25 – Saturday, July 27 from 12–10 PM daily; Sunday, July 28 from 10 AM –7 PM. Admission is free, but on a reservation system: https://feverup.com/m/186648. There will be a stand-by line daily if no reservations are available. The Lodge is not an official SDCC activation, therefore no badge is required for entry.

PARAMOUNT PASSPORT

For the third year, Paramount fans will have the opportunity to take part in a city-wide digital scavenger hunt via www.ParamountPassport.com. Either enter the website on your phone or scan a QR code at any of the activation sites. Once registered, guests can scan an item at the following locations after interacting with the space and earn a passport stamp. Once a guest visits all seven locations, they can head to the Paramount Passport Redemption area located at Paramount+’s The Lodge for limited edition prizes.

The digital passport will also feature information on all Paramount activations and panels. The Passport is not an official SDCC activation, therefore no badge is required for participation.

• Participating locations:
o Paramount+’s The Lodge at Happy Does Bar (340 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101)
o SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS Fountain at the Omni Hotel (675 L St, San Diego, CA 92101)
o SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS in the lobby of the Hard Rock Hotel (207 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101)
o STAR TREK Menagerie (San Diego Convention Center, Booth #3529)
o Nickelodeon / SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS (San Diego Convention Center, Booth #4113)
o Super7 x TMNT: Mikey’s Pizza Parlor Pop-Up (550 14th St #116, San Diego, CA 92101) *Friday, 7/26 only
o IF Photo Opp – Take a Picture with Blue! (Interactive Zone at Petco Park, 100 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101)




Peacock’s ‘Those About to Die’ and ‘Teacup’ Comic-Con Plans

By
Rebecca Murray
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Those About to Die Peacock Activation
Peacock presents ‘Those About to Die’ San Diego Comic-Con activation

Roland Emmerich’s epic gladiator series Those About to Die and Peacock’s horror series Teacup have big plans for the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con. Both shows will be hosting star-studded panels, and Peacock will be inviting fans to enter Those About to Die’s world with a special activation.

This year marks a return to normal for Comic-Con after Covid-19 and the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes wreaked havoc on the pop culture event. The 2024 event held at the San Diego Convention Center and surrounding Gaslamp area runs Wednesday, July 24 through Sunday, July 28th.

Peacock at San Diego Comic-Con

THOSE ABOUT TO DIE: THE CHARIOT RACE – THURSDAY, JULY 25 – SUNDAY, JULY 28:
Immerse yourself in the glory of Ancient Rome at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 with Peacock’s “Those About To Die: The Chariot Race.” Step inside the betting tavern, join one of the coveted factions, and experience the adrenaline thrill of the chariot race itself. Inspired by the new Original series, Peacock’s in-world activation will bring the ancient “Circus Maximus” to life right in the Gaslamp District. Upon entry, guests will be divided into the 5 factions from the show and given the chance to whip a pair of reins to power their team’s chariot to victory.

The activation will be open for the full duration of San Diego Comic-Con, Thursday, July 25 – 28. To reserve your place and bypass lines, please register at peacockthechariotrace.com. Tickets are available at no cost. Guests who have not pre-registered can join the standby line with limited entrance availability.

WHEN: Thursday, July 25 – Sunday, July 28
HOURS: Thursday: 12PM – 6:30 PM, Friday: 10AM – 6:30 PM, Saturday: 10AM – 6:30 PM, Sunday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
WHERE: 170 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

FIRST LOOK AT PEACOCK’S HORROR-THRILLER SERIES TEACUP – THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1:45pm Ballroom 20
Join executive producers James Wan and Ian McCulloch and stars Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman, and Chaske Spencer for an exclusive sneak peek at Peacock and Atomic Monster’s upcoming original horror series Teacup – a terrifying tale following a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive.

Those About to Die
Iwan Rheon as Tenax in ‘Those About to Die’ (Photo by: Reiner Bajo/Peacock)

BEHIND-THE-ACTION OF PEACOCK’S GLADIATOR EPIC THOSE ABOUT TO DIE – 3pm, Ballroom 20
Dive into the Roman Empire’s explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties as featured in Those About To Die with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Peacock series alongside executive producer/director Roland Emmerich and stars Iwan Rheon, Sara Martins, Moe Hashim, Jojo Macari, and Dimitri Leonidas.

The Plot: Those About to Die is an epic drama set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport. The series introduces an ensemble of characters from all corners of the Roman Empire who collide at the explosive intersection of sports, politics, and dynasties.

PARIS OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY LIVESTREAM AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON – FRIDAY, JULY 26
Set in Ancient Rome, the new Peacock Original series Those About to Die takes audiences back to the origins of arena sports. Just as guests will have the opportunity to experience the thrill of a chariot race for themselves at Peacock’s fan activation at San Diego Comic-Con, the 2024 Olympic Games will begin in Paris, France. To kick off this fortuitous moment and bridge live-action sports from the past with the present, Peacock and NBC will stunt the Opening Ceremony on Friday morning, July 26th with a public viewing using a 20×30 foot digital board to livestream Peacock’s feed.

The excitement will kick off with an Ancient Roman-dressed band playing Olympic-inspired fanfare tunes marching through the Gaslamp District. The band will arrive at Peacock’s activation footprint, in front of the “Circus Maximus,” just in time for the Ceremony to begin, drawing in passersby along the way. The full duration of the Opening Ceremony will be live-streamed, from 10:30am PT – 3pm PT at 170 Sixth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101.




FX Announces Fall 2024 Premiere Dates: ‘The Old Man’ and ‘English Teacher’

By
Rebecca Murray
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FX The Old Man Season 2
John Lithgow as Harold Harper and Jeff Bridges as Dan Chase in ‘The Old Man’ season 2 (Photo CR: FX)

FX’s fall 2024 lineup includes season two of The Old Man starring Jeff Bridges and the new documentary series Social Studies exploring the impact of social media on kids. FX announced premiere dates for its fall primetime calendar which kicks off on August 23, 2024 with The New York Times Presents: Lie to Fly.

The new comedy English Teacher created by and starring Brian Jordan Alvarez debuts on September 2nd, and The Old Man returns on September 12th. American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez airs on September 17th and Social Studies joins FX’s roster on September 27th.

FX Fall Lineup Series Descriptions

The New York Times Presents: Lie To Fly – Terror took hold of an Alaska Airlines flight last year after a man was accused of trying to crash the plane mid-flight and kill 83 people onboard. However, the accused was not just any passenger—he was a professional pilot, Joseph Emerson, who was under the influence of psychedelic mushrooms after fearing mental health treatment would derail his career.

The New York Times explores Joseph Emerson’s story and follows a growing movement calling for reform of the FAA’s strict rules around pilot mental health, which they claim leaves the public at risk.

English Teacher – FX’s English Teacher is a comedy series created by Brian Jordan Alvarez, in which he stars as Evan Marquez, a high school teacher in Austin, Texas who often finds himself at the intersection of the personal, professional and political aspects of working at a high school.

Evan wants to be a principled person but often runs into trouble because of it. By Evan’s side at Morrison-Hensley High is his friend group of other teachers. Chief among them is his best friend Gwen Sanders (Stephanie Koenig), the eager and optimistic history teacher who tends to see the best in people, even when she probably shouldn’t. Then there’s PE teacher Markie Hillridge (Sean Patton). Though he can seem gruff and abrasive, beneath the surface, he possesses a knowledge of human nature that often proves valuable to Evan. When they aren’t disagreeing, Markie and Evan share a genuine bond… but they’re usually disagreeing.

Principal Grant Moretti (Enrico Colantoni) wants nothing more than peace and the path of least resistance—a path Evan is rarely willing to take. While Grant keeps his own opinions close to the vest, he respects Evan’s passion, even if it makes his own job more difficult. Guidance Counselor Rick (Carmen Christopher) barely wants to be at this school—he sees himself as an entrepreneur—but still loves hanging out with the other teachers. Evan’s ex-boyfriend Malcolm (Jordan Firstman) is a former teacher at Morrison. Wild and free-thinking, Malcolm often draws Evan back into a pseudo-relationship.

When Grant informs Evan that he is being placed under investigation for a long-dormant incident where he and Malcolm kissed in front of students, Evan suddenly feels that he’s under a microscope and is being targeted for his sexuality. Evan is left with one rule to abide by: no relationships with faculty… only to meet Harry (Langston Kerman), a charming new teacher who seems to be interested in him.

Over the eight-episode season, we follow Evan as he navigates his relationships, his students and his fellow faculty and tries to answer the question: can you really be your full self at your job?

The Old Man – In season two of FX’s The Old Man, former CIA agent Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges) and former FBI Assistant Director Harold Harper (John Lithgow) set off on their most important mission to date — to recover Emily Chase (Alia Shawkat) after she is kidnapped by Faraz Hamzad (Navid Negahban), a powerful Afghan tribal leader. With all three men claiming her as their daughter, Emily finds herself in an identity crisis that has dire implications.

As Chase and Harper fight their way to get to Emily, Hamzad is forced to make decisions that could endanger his family and the village he has led faithfully for a lifetime. Khadija (Jacqueline Antaramian), Hamzad’s sister and trusted advisor, is concerned about the path her brother has taken and what it will cost them. As the stakes get higher and more secrets are uncovered, Zoe McDonald (Amy Brenneman) makes surprising moves after having been drawn into a new world by Chase. Meanwhile, Julian Carson (Gbenga Akinnagbe) is disillusioned by his former role and finds himself at a crossroads with a path he hadn’t imagined for himself.

FX American Sports Story Aaron Hernandez
A scene from ‘American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez’ (Photo credit: FX)

American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez – The first installment of American Sports Story is based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc. from The Boston Globe and Wondery. The 10-episode FX limited series charts the rise and fall of NFL superstar Aaron Hernandez and explores the disparate strands of his identity, his family, his career, his suicide and their legacy in sports and American culture.

The series stars Josh Rivera (Aaron Hernandez), Jaylen Barron (Shayanna Jenkins), Lindsay Mendez (Tanya Singleton), Ean Castellanos (DJ Hernandez), Tammy Blanchard (Terri Hernandez), Tony Yazbeck (Urban Meyer), Patrick Schwarzenegger (Tim Tebow), Thomas Sadoski (Brian Murphy), Jake Cannavale (“Chris”) and Norbert Leo Butz (Bill Belichick).

Social Studies Series
Bella and Holly in ‘Social Studies’ (Photo CR: Lauren Greenfield/FX)

Social Studies – From Emmy Award-winning filmmaker/photographer Lauren Greenfield, FX’s Social Studies is a character-driven documentary series that delves into the lives of the first generation raised on social media. Filmed in Los Angeles over a school year, this groundbreaking social experiment features a diverse group of LA teens who open up their lives and phones to offer an intimate glimpse into how social media has reshaped childhood.

From battling bullying, grappling with beauty standards, coping with racism, exploring sexuality, navigating the pressures of constant comparison, and making life-altering decisions, their compelling and relatable experiences take us on a raw, visceral, and urgent journey through the challenges of growing up in the digital age.

Social Studies is created, directed, and executive produced by Lauren Greenfield (The Queen of Versailles) alongside executive producers Frank Evers, Wallis Annenberg, Andrea Van Beuren, Regina K. Scully, and Caryn Capotosto.




‘Longlegs’ Review: Starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage

By
James Jay Edwards
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Maika Monroe in Longlegs
Maika Monroe stars in ‘Longlegs’ (Photo Credit: Neon)

It’s been almost ten years since Osgood Perkins, son of the late Anthony Perkins, made his awesomely haunting debut film The Blackcoat’s Daughter. Since then, he’s played around with television and a couple of average movies, but now, he’s back with the much-hyped Longlegs.

Longlegs is about a young FBI agent named Lee Harker (Maika Monroe from It Follows) who, through either intuition or psychic abilities, seems to have an uncanny knack for knowing things. She is assigned to a case involving a serial killer who calls himself Longlegs (Renfield’s Nicolas Cage), and as she gets deeper into the investigation, the killer starts to take a personal interest in her as well. She soon learns that the case is about much more than simply a maniac who murders families.

Oz Perkins lets the viewer know exactly what they’re in for with the pre-credits scene in Longlegs. A young girl wanders outside into the snow and looks around her yard. After showing a couple of shots of empty parts of the landscape, the camera cuts to Longlegs as the musical score shouts a loud, dissonant chord. It’s more startling than scary, but it does pack a punch and sets the tone for the entire movie.

Most of the scares in the movie are constructed this way. They come suddenly with a jump cut and a sting of volume, so they’re more surprising and uncomfortable than actually scary. That’s not to say that they aren’t effective, but they’re a bit cheap in their execution. And that seems to be the point. It’s almost as if Perkins is showing off – you know the jump is coming, and he still gets you.

Longlegs is basically The Silence of the Lambs if Clarice Starling was psychic and Buffalo Bill was into cryptography and the occult. There’s a system and a method to what Longlegs is doing, and he taunts Lee effortlessly and endlessly while he’s doing it, seemingly daring her to catch him. The lo-fi, nineties aesthetic and the overall coldness of the film also help with the Lambs comparison. Longlegs is the B-movie version of the Jonathan Demme classic.

There’s a strange stiffness to Maika Monroe’s performance that, at first, seems like she’s phoning it in with a sterile line reading. But as the movie moves on and more of her background is established, it becomes clearer that her performance is actually brilliant in its subtlety. It’s sort of like Shelley Duvall’s portrayal of Wendy Torrance in The Shining; once you realize the character’s arc and what they’re going through (and what they’ve been through), it changes the whole dynamic of the performance. Monroe’s clinical stoicism has a purpose.

And then, there’s Nic Cage. He makes for a creepy maniac. Even when covered in borderline ridiculous prosthetics and bleach-white makeup, he is able to make the audience’s skin crawl with just his sing-song screamy vocalizations. His awkwardness makes the viewer uncomfortable. It’s a truly unsettling performance that, really, only Nicolas Cage could deliver.

Longlegs is one of those conveyor-belt movies where the audience just hops on and holds on for the entirety of the tension-filled trip, just waiting for Perkins to reveal his next trick. And his next trick is most likely something that even the movie’s psychic main character won’t see coming. While it can’t really be called a “fun” movie, the Longlegs ride sure is entertaining.

GRADE: A

MPAA Rating: R for bloody violence, some language, and disturbing images

Running Time: 1 hour 41 minutes

Release Date: July 12, 2024

Studio: Neon




‘The Umbrella Academy’ Final Season Drops a Final Trailer

By
Rebecca Murray
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Can we just take a minute to appreciate the use of “The End” by My Chemical Romance in the final trailer for the final season of Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy? Season four finds the siblings attempting one last time to save the world, and the trailer reveals Ben might be the key to the timelines – and we may finally learn how he died.

The final season stars Elliot Page as Viktor Hargreeves, Tom Hopper as Luther Hargreeves, David Castañeda as Diego Hargreeves, Robert Sheehan as Klaus Hargreeves, Aidan Gallagher as Number Five, and Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison Hargreeves. Justin H. Min plays Ben Hargreeves, Colm Feore is Reginald Hargreeves, and Ritu Arya is Lila Pitts.

Spouses Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally join the final season as college professors Drs. Gene and Jean Thibedeau. And David Cross is playing Sy Grossman, a “shy business owner and family man desperate to reconnect with his estranged daughter, who will stop at nothing to get her back.”

The Umbrella Academy Season 4 Poster
‘The Umbrella Academy’ season 4 poster (Photo Credit: Netflix)

“The Hargreeves siblings have scattered after the climactic showdown at the Hotel Oblivion led to a complete reset of their timeline. Stripped of their powers, each is left to fend for themselves and find a new normal — with wildly varying degrees of success. Yet the trappings of their uncanny new world prove too hard to ignore for very long,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “Their father Reginald, alive and well, has stepped out of the shadows and into the public eye, overseeing a powerful and nefarious business empire. A mysterious association known as The Keepers holds clandestine meetings believing the reality they’re living in is a lie and a great reckoning is coming. As these strange new forces conspire around them, the Umbrella Academy must come together one last time — and risk upsetting the shaky peace they’ve all endured so much to secure — to finally set things right.”

Based on Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s Dark Horse comic book series, The Umbrella Academy series was created by Steve Blackman. Blackman serves as showrunner and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Jennifer Cecil, Mike Richardson, Keith Goldberg, Scott Stuber, Beau Bauman, Pascal Verschooris, Jesse McKeown, Abbey Morris, and Jeremy Webb. Way and Bá serve as co-executive producers.

Season four premieres on August 8, 2024 on Netflix.




Laika, Phil Lord and Chris Miller Team Up on Brian Duffield’s ‘Crumble’

By
Rebecca Murray
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Crumble Brian Duffield, Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Brian Duffield, Phil Lord, and Chris Miller set for ‘Crumble’ (Photo Credits: Jesse Grant / Eric Charbonneau, Getty Images for Sony Pictures)

No One Will Save You‘s Brian Duffield is attached to write and direct Crumble for LAIKA. The live-action film has Oscar winners Chris Miller and Phil Lord on board to produce along with Lord Miller’s Aditya Sood.

“We’re so excited to partner with Brian and the entire team at Lord Miller on this special film,” said LAIKA’s President, Live Action Film & Series Matt Levin. “Brian has such a singular voice and Crumble perfectly embodies the bold, emotional, and inventive storytelling that we champion at LAIKA. Lord Miller is in a class of its own and we could not ask for a better creative team to bring this story to life.”

Lord Miller’s Lucy Kitada and Nikki Baida are attached as executive producers. Writer/director Duffield serves as a producer.

“We’re so excited to keep collaborating with our friend Brian Duffield who has written a script that is endlessly imaginative, funny, and romantic,” said Chris Miller and Phil Lord. “We have long been fans of LAIKA and Travis Knight’s groundbreaking work in animation and could not be more excited to join forces with them in live action.”

Crumble follows a married couple who go on a world-traversing adventure in the hope of finding a cure to an ancient curse.

“I’ll never forget seeing Coraline on opening night at the AMC Burbank 16 and wondering who these wonderful new geniuses were,” said Duffield. “I can’t wait to make a movie with them and hopefully live up to their banner, and I couldn’t be more excited to get to go on a new adventure with my friends at Lord Miller.”

Brian Duffield’s No One Will Save You starring Kaitlyn Dever premiered in September 2023 on Hulu. The home invasion thriller with a sci-fi twist earned a Best Movie Made for Television nomination from the Critics Choice Awards as well as a WGA Award nomination in the TV & New Media Motion Picture category. Duffield also wrote and directed Spontaneous released in 2020 and starring Katherine Langford and Charlie Plummer.




‘Gladiator II’ Trailer: Paul Mescal Enters the Arena

By
Rebecca Murray
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Paramount’s Gladiator II trailer opens with Lucius (Paul Mescal) revealing the image of Maximus (Russell Crowe) taking revenge against an emperor is embedded in his memory. The three-minute trailer reveals the relationship between Denzel Washington’s character and Lucius, shows off bits of Pedro Pascal as General Marcus Acacius, and teases that Joseph Quinn’s Emperor Geta could be as twisted as the original film’s Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).

The plot focuses on Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and nephew of Commodus. (Lucius was played by Spencer Treat Clark in the original movie.) Nielsen returns as Lucilla, Fred Hechinger plays Emperor Caracalla, and Denzel Washington stars as Macrinus.

“Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist,” reads Paramount’s synopsis. “With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.”

The trailer release was accompanied by six character posters.

Paul Mescal in Gladiator II
Paul Mescal in ‘Gladiator II’ (Credit: Paramount PIctures)

Ridley Scott directs from a screenplay by David Scarpa, based on characters created by David Franzoni. Scott, Franzoni, Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, and Michael Pruss serve as producers. Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Raymond Kirk, and Aidan Elliott executive produce.

Gladiator was released in May 2000 and earned 12 Oscar nominations, winning five including Best Picture and Best Actor (Crowe). The sequel is set for release in theaters, Dolby Cinema, and IMAX on November 22, 2024.

Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius
Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius (Credit: Paramount PIctures)
Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta
Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta (Credit: Paramount PIctures)
Fred Hechinger as Emperor
Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla (Credit: Paramount PIctures)
Denzel Washington as Macrinus in Gladiator II
Denzel Washington as Macrinus (Credit: Paramount PIctures)
Connie Nielsen as Lucilla
Connie Nielsen as Lucilla (Credit: Paramount PIctures)




NBC Announces Fall 2024 Primetime Premiere Dates

By
Rebecca Murray
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Zachary Quinto in Brilliant Minds
Zachary Quinto as Dr. Oliver Wolf in ‘Brilliant Minds’ (Photo by: Rafy/NBC)

NBC’s fall primetime lineup includes the premieres of the new drama Brilliant Minds starring Zachary Quinto as well as the new comedies Happy’s Place and St. Denis Medical. The Voice has the honor of kicking off NBC’s fall lineup on September 23, 2024 with Snoop Dogg and Michael Bublé filling judge chairs alongside returning judges Gwen Stefani and Reba McEntire.

Returning comedies include Lopez vs. Lopez and Night Court. The Chicago trio – Chicago Med, Chicago Fire, and Chicago P.D. – debuts on Wednesday, September 25th. Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU return with new episodes on October 3rd.

The Hunting Party, Deal or No Deal Island, and Destination X will join NBC’s primetime lineup midseason.

NBC FALL PREMIERE DATES

Saturday, Aug. 31
7:00-7:30 p.m. – Big Ten Countdown (Season Premiere)
7:30-11:00 p.m. – Big Ten Football (Season Premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 5
7:00-8:15 p.m. – NFL Kickoff 2024
8:15-11:30 p.m. – Sunday Night Football (Season Premiere)

Sunday, Sept. 8
7:00-8:15 p.m. – Football Night in America (Season Premiere)
8:15-11:30 p.m. – Sunday Night Football (Time Period Premiere)

Monday, Sept. 23
8-10 p.m. – The Voice (Season premiere)
10-11 p.m. – Brilliant Minds (Series premiere)

Tuesday, Sept. 24
9-11 p.m. – America’s Got Talent (Season finale)

Wednesday, Sept. 25
8-9 p.m. – Chicago Med (Season premiere)
9-10 p.m. – Chicago Fire (Season premiere)
10-11 p.m. – Chicago P.D. (Season premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 26
8-10 p.m. – People’s Choice Country Awards

Friday, Sept 27
9-11 p.m. – Dateline NBC (Season premiere)

Tuesday, Oct. 1
8-10 p.m. – The Voice (Tuesday premiere)
10-11 p.m. – The Irrational (Season premiere)

Thursday, Oct. 3
8-9 p.m. – Law & Order (Season premiere)
9-10 p.m. – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Season premiere)
10-11 p.m. – Found (Season premiere)

Friday, Oct. 18
8-8:30 p.m. – Happy’s Place (Series premiere)
8:30-9 p.m. – Lopez vs. Lopez (Season premiere)

Tuesday, Nov. 12
8-9 p.m. – St. Denis Medical (Series premiere, back-to-back episodes)

Tuesday, Nov. 19
8:30-9 p.m. – Night Court (Season premiere)

BRILLIANT MINDS – Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks, Brilliant Minds follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier – the human mind – while grappling with their own relationships and mental health. The cast includes Zachary Quinto, Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Teddy Sears, and Donna Murphy.


Happy's Place Star Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire and Belissa Escobedo in ‘Happy’s Place’ (Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC)

HAPPY’S PLACE – Bobbie inherits her father’s restaurant and is less than thrilled to discover that she has a new business partner in the half-sister she never knew she had. The series stars Reba McEntire, Belissa Escobedo, Melissa Peterman, Pablo Castelblanco, Tokala Black Elk, and Rex Linn.

ST. DENIS MEDICAL – A mockumentary about an underfunded, understaffed Oregon hospital where the dedicated doctors and nurses try their best to treat patients while maintaining their own sanity. Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Kahyun Kim, Mekki Leeper, and Kaliko Kauahi star.




‘Time Bandits’ Trailer: Prepare for Epic Time-Traveling Adventures

By
Rebecca Murray
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The television adaptation of Terry Gilliam’s Time Bandits is, finally, officially set to premiere on July 24, 2024 on Apple TV+. The trailer for the long-awaited series adaptation teases the wild yet family-friendly adventures the time-traveling characters will go on, including encounters with dinosaurs and the Trojan Horse.

“Time Bandits is an unpredictable journey through time and space with a ragtag group of thieves and their newest recruit: an 11-year-old history buff named Kevin. Together they set out on a thrilling quest to save the boy’s parents — and the world,” reads Apple TV+’s synopsis. “Guided by Lisa Kudrow, the eccentric crew of bandits embark on epic adventures while evil forces threaten their conquests and life as they know it. As the group is transported through time and space, the gang stumbles upon fascinating worlds of the distant past while seeking out treasure, depending on Kevin to shed light on each situation.

The Time Bandits witness the creation of Stonehenge, see the Trojan Horse in action, escape dinosaurs in the prehistoric age, wreak havoc during medieval times, experience the Ice Age, ancient civilizations, and the Harlem Renaissance, and much more along the way.”

Time Bandits Poster
Poster for ‘Time Bandits’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)

The comedy adventure stars Lisa Kudrow (The Comeback), Kal-El Tuck (Unseeing Evil), Tadhg Murphy (Conversations with Friends), Roger Jean Nsengiyumva (You Don’t Know Me), Rune Temte (Eddie the Eagle), and Charlyne Yi (Knocked Up). Rachel House (Heartbreak High), Kiera Thompson (Martyrs Lane), James Dryden (Ready Player One), Felicity Ward (The Office Australia), Francesca Mills (Harlots), and Imaan Hadchiti (Thor: Love and Thunder) also star in the 10-episode season.

Taika Waititi (Reservation Dogs), Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords), and Iain Morris (The Inbetweeners) created the series and serve as writers, directors, and executive producers. Clement and Morris are the showrunners, and Waititi and Clement pop up as guest stars. Additional executive producers include Garrett Basch, Tim Coddington, and Handmade Films’ Jane Stanton. Paramount Television Studios, Anonymous Content’s AC Studios, and MRC produced the series for Apple TV+.

The first two episodes will stream on July 24th followed by new episodes on Wednesdays.

The original Time Bandits film was written by Monty Python’s Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam, with Gilliam directing. Palin, John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Katherine Helmond, and Ian Holm starred in the PG-rated adventure. The Hugo Award-winning film sits at 91% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.




‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ Recruits Three Cadets

By
Rebecca Murray
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Starfleet Academy George Hawkins
George Hawkins as Darem Reymi in ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ (Photo Credit: Sarah Coulter/Paramount+)

Wolf Pack‘s Bella Shepard has joined Paramount+’s new addition to the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. George Hawkins (Tell Me Everything) and Kerrice Brooks (My Old Ass) are also on board the original series set to star Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti.

“Star Trek: Starfleet Academy introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism,” reads Paramount+’s synopsis. “Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.”

According to the casting announcement, Brooks, Shepard, and Hawkins are playing cadets at Starfleet Academy. Oscar-winner Holly Hunter (The Piano) stars as a captain and Starfleet Academy chancellor. Two-time Oscar nominee Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers) will be tormenting the Academy as this season’s villain.

Filming is expected to get underway this summer.

Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau are guiding the series as co-showrunners and executive producers. Additional executive producers include Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Jenny Lumet, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, Frank Siracusa and John Weber. Episode one is written by Gaia Violo who also serves as an executive producer.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.

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