NBC’s Transplant continues with season three episode five, an episode that finds Bash taking on a patient whose treatment might actually help with his own PTSD. “Nadir” will air on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT.
Hamza Haq leads the cast as Dr. Bashir “Bash” Hamed and Sirena Gulamgaus stars as Amira. Rekha Sharma plays Dr. Neeta Devi, Laurence Leboeuf is Dr. Magalie “Mags” Leblanc, and Ayisha Issa stars as Dr. June Curtis. Jim Watson plays Dr. Theo Hunter, Torri Higginson is Claire Malone, and Gord Rand is Dr. Mark Novak.
“Nadir” Plot: Mags recovers from a personal crisis and worries about how to get her life back on track. Bash takes an unorthodox approach to treating a soldier with PTSD and may end up helping himself. June lets her emotions get in the way of her job.
Joseph Kay created the series and serves as showrunner and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Rachel Langer, Josée Vallée, Jocelyn Deschênes, Bruno Dubé, and Stefan Pleszczynski.
Hamza Haq as Dr. Bashir Hamed and Laurence Leboeuf as Dr. Magalie Leblanc in ‘Transplant’ season 3 episode 5 (Photo by Yan Turcotte / Sphere Media / CTV)
The Season 3 Plot, Courtesy of NBC:
The new season finds Bashir “Bash” Hamed (Haq) continuing his journey to start over, but with each new milestone comes a new challenge. While pursuing Canadian citizenship for himself and his younger sister, Amira (Gulamgaus), Bash closely examines who he’s becoming in his adopted country.
Still being asked repeatedly to prove himself, Bash works closely with his colleagues as they move forward following the dramatic conclusion of season two. Everyone continues to find themselves looking to adapt to change and understand how they fit in, both within and beyond the walls of York Memorial Hospital.
After Dr. Bishop’s (John Hannah) sudden departure, the team gains a new boss with the forward-thinking Dr. Neeta Devi. Dr. Devi has big ideas when it comes to overhauling the emergency department at York Memorial.
Hamza Haq as Dr. Bashir Hamed and Ali Kazmi as Gurjeet Sran in season 3 episode 5 (Photo by: Yan Turcotte/Sphere Media/CTV)Kenny Wong as Arnold De Luca, Masha Bashmakova as Nancy, and Mariah Inger as Rhoda Dasilva in season 3 episode 5 (Photo by: Yan Turcotte/Sphere Media/CTV)Torri Higginson as Claire Malone, Gord Rand as Dr. Mark Novak, and Hamza Haq as Dr. Bashir Hamed in season 3 episode 5 (Photo by: Yan Turcotte/Sphere Media/CTV)Hamza Haq as Dr. Bashir Hamed and Jim Watson as Dr. Theo Hunter in season 3 episode 5 (Photo by: Sphere Media/CTV)Laurence Dauphinais as Phoebe, Adelio Moras as Bowie, and Rekha Sharma as Dr. Neeta Devi in season 3 episode 5 (Photo by: Sphere Media/CTV)Gord Rand as Dr. Mark Novak and Ayisha Issa as Dr. June Curtis in season 3 episode 5 (Photo by: Sphere Media/CTV)
Marvel Studios’ Echo isn’t your normal Disney+ series. No, this series has some bite and doesn’t skimp on gritty, violent action scenes. At least, that’s the vibe laid down in the first official trailer for the comic-book-inspired series starring Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez.
Cox was introduced in the role in 2021’s Hawkeye limited series starring Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld. Vincent D’Onofrio reprises his role as Wilson Fisk / Kingpin from Daredevil and Hawkeye in Echo, with the trailer confirming the series will trace his relationship with Maya.
The cast also includes Chaske Spencer (The English), Graham Greene (1883), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon), Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds), and Cody Lightning (Hey, Viktor!).
The event series is the first Marvel Studios show to receive a TV-MA rating. It’s also the first to drop simultaneously on Disney+ and Hulu. And, it will mark the first to make all of its episodes available to binge when it debuts on January 10, 2024.
“The five-episode streaming event spotlights Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) as she is pursued by Wilson Fisk’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) criminal empire,” reads Marvel Studios’ synopsis. “When the journey brings her home, she must confront her own family and legacy.”
Sydney Freeland (Navajo) and Catriona McKenzie (Gunaikurnai) directed the limited series. Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Richie Palmer, Jason Gavin (Blackfeet), Marion Dayre, and Sydney Freeland served as executive producers.
Global popstar Jungkook of BTS released his highly anticipated album Golden on Friday, November 3, 2023 at 12am ET. Alongside the release of the album came the lead single, “Standing Next to You,” which was accompanied by an impressive, high-energy music video.
Golden marks Jungkook’s first solo album.
The album consists of 11 tracks, including the main track “Standing Next to You” and the hit solo single “Seven (feat. Latto). Jungkook shattered a few records with the release of “Seven,” including the fastest song to surpass one billion streams in Spotify history and to hit number on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Both the clean and explicit versions are on the album, along with “3D (feat. Jack Harlow)” and other brand-new tracks. Each track off Golden occupied the top 12 on US iTunes shortly after the album’s release.
The order of the tracks is significant, according to BigHit Music. “Jungkook expresses the flow of emotions that follow the changes in relationships. The first half of the album introduces songs with lighthearted melodies portraying someone falling in love, whereas the latter half lays out songs that feel heavier, dealing with emotions following a breakup,” offers BigHit Music.
The title reflects Jungkook’s nickname in BTS – “Golden Maknae” (golden youngest in Korean) – a nickname given to him by his bandmate RM in BTS’s earlier days. Jungkook explained that through the album, he charts his growth from his young yet golden debut in his early career to the global popstar he is today. Jungkook, who had a hand in curating the album and inserted a wide variety of genres that reflect his wide musical range and versatility, was fully engaged in the entire process of making the album.
Additionally, Jungkook joined forces with some heavy-hitter musicians for the album’s production. Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Major Lazer, as well as producers BloodPop, David Stewart, and more joined him for the album. The album has an abundance of star-studded collaborations as well, starting with his hit single “Seven (feat. Latto)” and including “3D (feat. Jack Harlow)” along with tracks featuring Major Lazer and DJ Snake.
The main track, “Standing Next to You,” is a retro funk track that showcases Jungkook’s groovy vocals. The track conveys the message that “because our love is deeper than anything, we will always be together no matter what adversity may come our way,” per BigHit Music. Grammy-winning producers Andrew Watt and Cirkut, who worked on “Seven (feat. Latto),” teamed up with Jungkook again to produce the track.
The song’s music video was directed by Tanu Muino, who won Video of the Year at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards for Lil Nas X’s “Montero.” Dare we say there’s a hint of Michael Jackson that comes through in Jungkook’s incredible dance moves in the video? The video racked up millions of views within the first hours of its release, earning it a spot in the top three of YouTube’s trending videos.
In support of the album’s release, Jungkook will make an appearance on Today‘s 2023 Citi Concert Series on November 6th and on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on November 8.
Jungkook of BTS ‘Golden’ album cover (Credit: BigHit Music)
Golden Tracklist:
1. 3D ft. Jack Harlow
2. Closer to You ft. Major Lazer
3. Seven ft. Latto (Explicit Version)
4. Standing Next to You
5. Yes or No
6. Please Don’t Change ft. DJ Snake
7. Hate You
8. Somebody
9. Too Sad to Dance
10. Sot Glass of Tears
11. Seven ft. Latto (Clean Version)
The CW’s confirmed that Superman & Lois starring Tyler Hoechlin (Teen Wolf) and Elizabeth Tulloch (Grimm) will wrap up with the upcoming fourth season. The superhero action series was the last remaining holdout from The CW’s old comic-book-inspired primetime lineup that included Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, Supergirl, Batwoman, Stargirl, and Gotham Knights.
Season four will consist of just 10 episodes and is expected to air in 2024.
“While we’re sad to say goodbye to Superman & Lois at the end of Season Four, we’re grateful for the time we’ve had with our amazing cast, crew, vfx teams, editors, musical geniuses, and writers. Since the day this show was first discussed, it was about family. And that’s what was created—on and off screen,” stated executive producers and co-showrunners Todd Helbing and Brent Fletcher.”
Helbing and Fletcher continued: “We’d like to thank our partners at Berlanti Productions, DC, WB, and The CW for their endless support and enthusiasm during this journey…and give a very special thank you to all the fans for tuning in. We’re thrilled about what we have in store in our final season, and can’t wait for everyone to watch as Superman, Lois, and all our heroes face off against the biggest threat in the show’s history — Lex Luthor.”
Michael Bishop and Alex Garfin will return for the fourth and final season as Jonathan and Jordan, respectively. Additional executive producers include Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, and Geoff Johns.
“Over the last three seasons, Superman & Lois redefined both the superhero genre and family drama as Tyler, Elizabeth, and the entire cast effortlessly portrayed these classic characters with new layers of depth and complexity that had never before been explored in the Superman universe,” said Brad Schwartz, President of Entertainment, The CW Network. “We are grateful for the years of hard work and graceful storytelling from the show’s writers, producers, actors, and crew, as well as our terrific partners at Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions. As Superman embarks on his final flight, the team is leaving us with an absolutely epic 10-episode must-watch-every-minute farewell to one of the most legendary CW families ever.”
Garth Brooks headlines Amazon Music Live special (Photo Credit: Business Wire)
Amazon Music’s tapped Country superstar Garth Brooks to headline the first Black Friday Amazon Music Live (AML) special on November 24, 2023. Brooks will livestream one of his special “Dive Bar” concerts from his new Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk bar in Nashville, Tennessee.
The livestream “Dive Bar” concert will take place beginning at 7pm ET on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch. Brooks is expected to entertain his millions of fans by performing brand-new music live for the first time. The top-selling solo artist of the 20th century will also perform fan favorites along with tracks off of Time Traveler, his upcoming studio album.
“We’ve already seen over 3 million entries to win a chance to attend, and thanks to our friends at Amazon, this episode will ensure that everybody who wants to see this show can,” said Brooks. “Not only will the people see the Friends bar for the first time, but they will also hear new music live for the first time…and if you know us, we will be playing the old stuff, as well.”
November 24, 2023 will also mark the first time an NFL game has been played on Black Friday.
Chip and Joanna Gaines as seen on ‘Fixer Upper The Hotel’ (Photograph Courtesy of Max)
Chip and Joanna Gaines continue to expand their roster of Magnolia Network series with the announcement of four new family-friendly unscripted shows. The four series are currently in development for Max and are targeting a 2024 launch on the streaming service.
“Our hope for this network has always been to give families the opportunity to watch authentic, thoughtful storytelling together, so we are thrilled to offer a new expansion of this vision to Max,” stated Chip and Joanna Gaines. “These shows will celebrate second chances, risk-taking, imagination, perseverance, and family connection, with so many more ideas to come.”
The four new series are:
Second Chance Stage (wt): a talent competition that offers contestants who have pushed their dreams aside a second chance at their big break.
Human vs Hamster: a light and irreverent competition show where groups of people go head-to-head with hamsters in scaled games of strength, smarts and agility to find out, “who is the superior species: humans or hamsters?”
Back to the Frontier (wt): families will leave the 21st century behind to live as 1800s pioneers in this bold social experiment that will test their strength, stamina and sense of humor.
Roller Jam (wt): the top roller-skating crews in the country compete to see who will be crowned America’s best roller-dancing team.
“We’re excited to unveil a fun and broad slate of new shows intended to bring families together for engaging, playful and inspiring co-viewing experiences,” said Allison Page, President of Magnolia Network. “We recognized a white space in Max for fun, family-friendly content with unique formats and imaginative competition shows. We seized the opportunity to use our storytelling expertise to help bring these concepts to life and are thrilled to partner with Max to build a content offering the whole family will love.”
Emma Corrin and Harris Dickinson in ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ (Photo Credit: FX)
Hulu‘s 2023 winter slate of films and TV series includes the debut of A Murder at the End of the World starring Emma Corrin, season three of the Wild Crime documentary series, and season two of Life & Beth. Brawn: The Impossible Formula One Story, narrated by Keanu Reeves, and The Secret Life of Dancing Dogs with canine handlers also join Hulu’s lineup this winter.
The streaming service’s announcement covers November 2023 through March 2024 premieres.
Hulu 2023 Winter Series Lineup:
Black Cake – November 1, 2023
Based on The New York Times-bestselling book by Charmaine Wilkerson, Black Cake is a family drama wrapped in a murder mystery with a diverse cast of characters and a global setting. The story takes place in Jamaica, Italy, Scotland, England and Southern California. In the late 1960s, a runaway bride named Covey disappears into the surf off the coast of Jamaica and is feared drowned or a fugitive on the run for her husband’s murder.
In present-day California, a widow named Eleanor Bennett loses her battle with cancer, leaving her two estranged children, Byron and Benny, a flash drive that holds previously untold stories of her journey from the Caribbean to America. These stories, narrated by Eleanor, shock her children and challenge everything they thought they knew about their family’s origin.
A Murder at the End of the World – November 14, 2023 A Murder at the End of the World is a mystery series with a new kind of detective at the helm — a Gen Z amateur sleuth and tech-savvy hacker named “Darby Hart” (Emma Corrin). Darby and eight other guests are invited by a reclusive billionaire (Clive Owen) to participate in a retreat at a remote and dazzling location. When one of the other guests is found dead, Darby must use all of her skills to prove it was murder against a tide of competing interests and before the killer takes another life.
Brawn: The Impossible Formula One Story – November 15, 2023
This brand-new unscripted four-part documentary series with Keanu Reeves tells the remarkable story of how, in 2009, competing in the most expensive and technologically advanced racing series on Earth, the impossible happened. An understaffed, underfinanced and independent team won the World Championship – with a team that cost just £1.
Go behind the scenes of this Formula 1 fairytale with the people who were there – on the track, in the garage and the boardroom – giving their own thrilling versions of a miraculous year. Expect exclusive access to the F1 archives – much of it previously unseen – from a year that global sport will never forget, with contributions from British F1 driver Jenson Button and Ross Brawn, who led the team to victory.
Drive with Swizz Beatz – November 16, 2023
In Drive with Swizz Beatz, hip-hop legend and car collector Swizz Beatz and son Nasir Dean (also known as Note Marcato) visit car-loving destinations, where they’ll examine the area’s distinctive car culture and bring together two otherwise disparate car clubs over a shared love of all things automotive and an appreciation for what it’s like to beat the odds through sheer drive alone.
The Secret Life of Dancing Dogs – November 17, 2023 The Secret Life of Dancing Dogs‘ is a six-part docuseries that follows a pack of handlers and their canine counterparts from all over the globe as each prepares a dog-human duet worthy to compete at the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, in England. Our heroes leap, pirouette, and hop – hoping the judges will crown them the champion. This is a humorous yet inspirational dog dancing tale that proves there is a star in all of us, sometimes we just need a four-legged friend to let it shine.
Spellbound – November 20, 2023
When Cece Parker Jones, a vivacious 15-year-old relocates from a small town in the US to France to study at the Paris Opera Ballet School, she’s on top of the world! But things turn upside down when she discovers a book of family spells in the back room of her Aunt Ginger’s apothecary. While snooping through the book, she unknowingly casts the antidote to a protection spell that has been hiding her identity since she was a little girl. Turns out, she comes from a line of powerful witches called the Wizens! And in doing so, she summons her nemesis, the Mystics, who are after her magic.
This spit-fire teen must now juggle the pressures of an elite ballet school, learning new techniques she’s never studied before, keeping up with her intense academics, not to mention her new friendships and maybe a cute boy… or two, as well as her incredible ability to activate magic, while keeping this a secret for only her closest friends.
The Artful Dodger – November 29, 2023
An irreverent follow-up to Dickens’ Oliver Twist exploring the adult double life of Charles Dickens’ famous prince of thieves. Set in 1850’s Australia, in the lively colony of Port Victory, we meet Jack Dawkins, The Artful Dodger, who’s transferred his fast fingers as a pickpocket to the nimble skilled fingers of a surgeon. Dodger’s past returns to haunt him with the arrival of Fagin, luring him back into a world of crime. A greater threat – to Dodger’s heart – is Lady Belle, the Governor’s daughter, determined to become the colony’s first female surgeon.
From heists to life-and-death surgeries, from soirées to street violence, this is a tale of reinvention, betrayal, redemption, and love with a twist.
Wild Crime: Blood Mountain – November 30, 2023
Season three of Wild Crime, Wild Crime: Blood Mountain, follows the case of experienced hiker Meredith Emerson, who along with her dog, vanished without a trace on Blood Mountain in Georgia, leading authorities to begin a massive search-and-rescue operation. When two murdered hikers in other national forests across the southeast are discovered, the question is posed: Is Emerson just another lost hiker — or is something more sinister behind her disappearance?
Culprits – December 8, 2023 Culprits kicks off where most crime stories end: after a high-stakes heist, when the crew of elite criminals have gone their separate ways and have tried to leave their old lives behind. Past and present collide when a ruthless assassin starts targeting them one by one. Why are they being stalked, who is behind the mayhem, and will they be able to find one another in time to protect themselves and the people they love?
Dragons of Wonderhatch – December 20, 2023 Dragons of Wonderhatch follows Nagi, a girl in the “real world” who has spent her life feeling like she doesn’t belong. Dreaming of one day being able to fly, Nagi will come face to face with Thaim, another misfit from the animated world of Upananta who has long been made fun of for his inability to hear the voices of the dragons that inhabit his land. With the floating islands of Upananta slowly beginning to fall from the sky, the two misfits will set off on an epic adventure spanning both live-action and animated worlds.
Moving – December 2023
In the 1990s, South Korea’s National Security Planning Agency established a black ops team of superpowered individuals. Tasked with carrying out classified missions, members of this elite unit used their powers to defend the country and achieve the impossible on a daily basis. Despite their successes, one day the team suddenly went dark, dispersing across the country, never to be heard from again.
A few decades later, Bongseok, a boy who could float before he could walk, and Huisoo, a girl who survived a horrific car crash unscathed, end up at the same school, quickly becoming close after confiding their secrets in each other and discovering there are more people like them out in the world. But while life seems relatively carefree for the teenagers, a mysterious delivery driver named Frank begins murdering people with powers across Seoul.
With danger drawing ever closer, will anyone be able to stop Frank before he uncovers the children’s secrets?
Death and Other Details – Coming Winter 2024
Set amidst the glamor of the global elite, Death and Other Details centers on the brilliant and restless Imogene Scott (Violett Beane), who finds herself in the wrong place/wrong time (okay, it was kinda her fault) and becomes the prime suspect in a locked room murder mystery. The setting? A lavishly restored Mediterranean ocean liner. Suspects? Every pampered guest and every exhausted crew member. The problem? To prove her innocence, she must partner with a man she despises—Rufus Cotesworth (Mandy Patinkin), the world’s greatest detective.
Superhot: The Spicy World of Pepper People – January 22, 2024
Superhot spicy peppers are on fire lately – but while most experiment with heat, others live their lives in pursuit of fire. Superhot is a wild ride into the Spicy World of Pepper People – the self-proclaimed chili heads who have taken the chili pill and want to find out how deep the rabbit hole goes. This 10-part series goes deep into a subculture fueled by spice: from the elite growers who strive to create new superhots to the chili eaters who chase the endorphin rush of consuming them. Along the way, one legendary chili head sets out on a quest to answer the spiciest of questions: is there a pepper that can challenge the world’s hottest?
Daughters of the Cult – January 2024 Daughters of the Cult is a shocking five-episode deep-dive into the history of the polygamous Ervil LeBaron cult told directly through the eyes of the people who were there. Hidden in plain sight throughout the Southwest and Mexico, a splinter group of Mormon fundamentalist cult members perpetrate a deadly wave of violence and abuse for decades in the name of their fanatical prophet Ervil LeBaron, dubbed the ‘Mormon Manson’.
Survivors, relatives of killers and law enforcement now come forward to paint an emotional and grisly picture of a brutal madman ordering cold-blooded executions. Despite running from the FBI for most of their young lives there is triumph, healing, and sisterhood for the brave few who escape the cult and begin anew.
Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez – February 2, 2024 Love & WWE: Bianca & Montez is a fun, exciting peek into the personal lives of WWE’s hottest couple. Bianca Belair and Montez Ford’s road to WrestleMania is a wild ride, as Montez continues his ascent and Bianca fights to hold on to her title. With the support of their tight-knit group of friends, family and fellow superstars, the dynamic duo somehow always manages to pull off the impossible.
Life & Beth – February 16, 2024
As Beth and John’s relationship grows more serious, Beth begins to examine the possibilities of marriage and having a family as she and John seek answers for their communication problems. Is Beth’s traumatic history with men, and people she trusted from her youth destined to repeat itself? And what is triggering her fears? Beth does her best to keep her relationships alive while struggling to support friends and family who are all facing their own problems while entering their fourth decade.
An Earth Shatteringly Romantic Solar Valentine’s Day Opposites Special – February 2024
The Solar Opposites get romantic AF in their very first Valentine’s Day Special!
Death in the Dorms – February 2024
Season 2 of Death in the Dorms dives into six new true crime stories in six college campuses in the U.S. These are the stories of the kind of danger that no college student or parent is prepared for: A life cut short just when it was getting started.
Me Hereafter – February 2024 Me Hereafter is a true-crime series told from murder victims’ POVs. This genre-bending docudrama series features never-before-seen investigative footage, riveting dramatic scenes and rich interviews with those closest to the victims. Guided toward the truth by the voices of those tragically murdered, each of the four episodes is a tick-tock investigation filled with clues, alibis, motives and misdirects that keeps viewers guessing.
2023 Winter Films and Documentaries
Quiz Lady – November 3, 2023
A brilliant but tightly wound, gameshow-obsessed young woman, Anne (Awkwafina), and her estranged, train-wreck of a sister Jenny (Oh), must work together to help cover their mother’s gambling debts. When Anne’s beloved dog is kidnapped, they set out on a wild, cross-country trek to get the cash the only way they know how: by turning Anne into a bona-fide gameshow champion.
The Lady Bird Diaries – November 13, 2023 The Lady Bird Diaries is a groundbreaking documentary that looks at one of the most influential and least-understood first ladies, featuring audio from the 123 hours of personal and revealing diaries Lady Bird Johnson began recording after JFK’s assassination and continued throughout her husband’s administration.
Directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter and produced by Kim Reynolds, the film is based on Julia E. Sweig’s acclaimed New York Times bestselling biography, Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight, and the eight-part ABC Audio and Best Case Studios podcast, “In Plain Sight: Lady Bird Johnson.”
Cypher – November 24, 2023
GRAMMY-nominated lyricist and fast-rising star Tierra Whack first gained recognition at the age of 15 when she stunned viewers with her slick poetry while rapping for a YouTube channel on a Philadelphia Street. The video rapidly drew thousands of views and marked the first of Tierra’s many performances for the camera. Years later, director Chris Moukarbel begins documenting her astronomical rise, going behind the scenes of concerts and music videos as she navigates fame and receives exalted praise from stars like Erykah Badu.
One night, after a particularly tiring set, a seemingly innocuous fan interaction begins a series of increasingly unsettling events that swirl around Tierra and her team — even following them to Dubai. They soon start questioning who is filming whom and whether being seen (or watched) is a desirable and unavoidable part of fame.
Faraway Downs – November 26, 2023
The story centers on an English aristocrat, Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman) who travels halfway across the world to confront her wayward husband and sell an unusual asset: a million-acre cattle ranch in the Australian Outback called ‘Faraway Downs’. Following the death of her husband, a ruthless Australian cattle baron, King Carney (Bryan Brown), plots to take her land and she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) to protect her ranch.
The sweeping adventure romance is explored through the eyes of young Nullah (newcomer Brandon Walters), a bi-racial Indigenous Australian child caught up in the government’s draconian racial policy now referred to as the “Stolen Generations.” Together the trio experiences four life-altering years, a love affair between Lady Ashley and the Drover, and the unavoidable impact of World War II on Northern Australia.
We Live Here: The Midwest – December 6, 2023
All families must confront challenges, every day. But many also face a rising tide of discrimination and hate in their churches, schools, and even their own neighborhoods.
We Live Here: The Midwest profiles families who hope to stay in a part of the country they love, and where they have often established deep roots: a trans/queer family with five children in Iowa must find a new community after being expelled from their church; a gay Black couple with a young daughter test the line of acceptance in Nebraska; a lesbian couple homeschool their bullied son on a farm in Kansas; a gay teacher in Ohio creates a safe space for LGBTQI+ students; and a couple in Minnesota struggles to rebuild their families following both of their transitions. Meanwhile, Minnesota Representative and queer mother, Heather Keeler, brings LGBTQI+ rights to the political forefront despite ongoing death threats.
Fundamentally, the film captures a crucial time where anti-queer legislation and sentiment is rapidly multiplying across the country, and the values of all Midwestern families are put to the ultimate test.
Self Reliance – January 12, 2024
When a middle-aged man (Jake Johnson) is invited into a limo by famous actor Andy Samberg, his dull life takes a thrilling turn. Johnson is offered a chance to win a million dollars in a dark web reality TV show, where assassins from all over the world attempt to kill him for 30 days. The catch? He can’t be killed if he’s not entirely alone, leading him to recruit an unlikely team to help him survive.
A scene from ‘Futurama’ season 11 (Photo by: Matt Groening/Hulu)
Futurama won’t be wrapping up anytime soon. The popular animated series returned after a 10-year break with season 11, and season 12 is targeting a 2024 premiere. Ahead of season 12’s debut, Hulu has officially renewed Futurama for seasons 13 and 14.
Season 11, which premiered on July 24, 2023, features the voices of John DiMaggio, Billy West, Katey Sagal, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr, and David Herman. Series creator Matt Groening executive produces along with David X. Cohen, Ken Keeler, and Claudia Katz.
Hulu’s offers this description of the animated show’s 10-episode 11th season:
“After a brief ten-year hiatus, Futurama has sprung triumphantly from the cryogenic tube, its full original cast and satirical spirit intact. The ten all-new episodes of season eleven have something for everyone. New viewers will be able to pick up the series from here, while long-time fans will recognize payoffs to decades-long mysteries – including developments in the epic love story of Fry and Leela, the mysterious contents of Nibbler’s litter box, the secret history of evil Robot Santa, and the whereabouts of Kif and Amy’s tadpoles.
Meanwhile, there’s a whole new pandemic in town as the crew explores the future of vaccines, bitcoin, cancel culture, and streaming TV.”
FX’s long-gestating Shogun series is now targeting a February 2024 premiere on Hulu and FX. The date announcement was accompanied by the first teaser trailer for the 10-episode limited series based on James Clavell’s bestselling novel.
(Update: The series will premiere with the release of the first two episodes on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.)
Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks created the series and executive produce, with Marks also guiding the series as showrunner. Additional executive producers include Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, and Michael De Luca.
Poster for FX’s Shogun
FX offered this detailed description of the plot, cast, and characters:
Shogun is set in Japan in the year 1600, at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Producer Hiroyuki Sanada stars as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, who is fighting for his life as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants.
Toranaga’s and Blackthorne’s fates become inextricably tied to their translator, Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai), a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her and her duty to her late father.
The limited series also features:
Tadanobu Asano as Kashigi Yabushige, a notorious backstabber and close ally of Toranaga.
Hiroto Kanai as Kashigi Omi, the young leader of the fishing village where Blackthorne’s ship was found.
Takehiro Hira as Ishido Kazunari, a powerful bureaucrat who is Toranaga’s chief rival.
Moeka Hoshi as Usami Fuji, a widow who must find new purpose amidst her lord’s fight.
Tokuma Nishioka as Toda Hiromatsu, Toranaga’s trusted general and closest friend.
Shinnosuke Abe as Toda Hirokatsu, Mariko’s jealous husband.
Yuki Kura as Yoshii Nagakado, the brash son of Toranaga with a strong desire to prove himself.
Fumi Nikaido as Ochiba no Kata, the revered mother of the heir who will stop at nothing to put an end to Toranaga and his threat to her son’s power.
James Clavell’s Shogun was published in 1975 and has sold over 15 million copies. The novel was previously adapted into a miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain as John Blackthorne, Toshiro Mifune as Lord Toranaga, Yoko Shimada as Mariko, Alan Badel as Father Alvito, and John Rhys-Davies as Vasco Rodriguez. The miniseries premiered in September 1980 and went on to win three Primetime Emmy Awards – Outstanding Limited Series, Outstanding Costume Design, and Outstanding Graphic Design and Title Sequences.
20th Century Studios’ first teaser trailer for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes confirms apes have now established themselves as the planet’s dominant species. The one-minute trailer provides a brief glimpse at new key characters as well as the world the apes have built after the fall of humankind.
“Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic franchise set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows,” reads 20th Century Studios’ synopsis. “As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.”
The teaser was accompanied by a poster and a batch of stills from the 2024 release.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes follows the franchise reboot that kicked off with 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes arrived in 2014, with War for the Planet of the Apes debuting in 2017.
The first film of the new chapter of the sci-fi action franchise stars Owen Teague (IT), Freya Allan (The Witcher), Kevin Durand (Locke & Key), Peter Macon (Shameless), and William H. Macy (Fargo). Josh Friedman, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Patrick Aison wrote the screenplay, based on characters created by Jaffa and Silver. Director Wes Ball, Joe Hartwick, Jr., Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Jason Reed produced, with Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping executive producing.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes will open in theaters on May 24, 2024.