Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk soccer team vowed to represent the wartorn country to the best of their ability during the 2022-2023 UEFA Champions League season. The Ukrainian club and what it means to a country caught up in war are spotlighted in the new trailer for Paramount+’s four-part documentary series Football Must Go On.
“UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious annual soccer tournament in the world filled with incredible drama, but we’ve never seen a team become the biggest story because of ongoing war in its homeland,” stated coordinating producer Pete Radovich. “A heartfelt thank you to sporting director Darijo Srna, and every staff member, player, and coach at Shakhtar Donetsk for their incredible generosity and openness in allowing us to tell their story to the world.”
The docuseries, which is part of the Stories from the Beautiful Game soccer documentary collection, is directed by BAFTA winner Alex Gale (Scotland 78: A Love Story).
Football Must Go On kicks off on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
Paramount+ released this description of the four-part docuseries:
Football Must Go On follows the emotional and physical journey of Ukraine soccer club Shakhtar Donetsk as they compete in the 2022-2023 UEFA Champions League season against the constant backdrop of their homeland being ravaged by war. The fly-on-the-wall documentary series gives viewers an in-depth look at the upheaval and challenges by the Ukraine champions that no team in modern-day sports has ever faced.
Granted unique access by the team, Paramount+ and CBS Sports go with Shakhtar as the players and coaches juggle the demands of playing in club football’s biggest tournament, while monitoring the horrors unfolding at home. Living in Ukraine and ultimately forced by war to decamp to Poland, Shakhtar must play at “home” against European giants Real Madrid, and others, in a Warsaw stadium that also houses refugees from their homeland.
Wherever they play, Shakhtar must focus on the game at hand with the fate of their loved ones and homeland always on their minds. Football Must Go On is a unique juxtaposition of sports glory, the agony of war and the triumph of the human spirit.
Cruz does her job almost too well and gets closer to Aaliyah on Paramount+’s Special Ops: Lioness season one episode seven. “Wish the Fight Away” will premiere on Sunday, August 27, 2023 at 12am PT/3am ET.
Zoe Saldaña leads the cast as Joe, and Laysla De Oliveira stars as Cruz Manuelos. Emmy Award nominee Michael Kelly plays Bryon Westfield, Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman is US Secretary of State Edwin Mullins, Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman Kaitlyn Meade, and Dave Annable is Neal, Joe’s husband.
The cast also includes Jill Wagner as Bobby, LaMonica Garrett as Tucker, James Jordan as Two Cups, Austin Hébert as Randy, Jonah Wharton as Tex, Stephanie Nur as Aaliyah, and Hannah Love Lanier as Kate.
“Wish the Fight Away” Plot: While shopping in Manhattan for the wedding, Aaliyah and Cruz get closer. Kate returns home only to say goodbye to her mom once again. Joe guides Cruz through internal struggle and doubt in completing the mission.
Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade and Michael Kelly as Byron Westfield In ‘Special Ops: Lioness’ episode 7 (Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+)
Special Ops: Lioness Plot, Courtesy of Paramount+
Special Ops: Lioness, inspired by an actual U.S. Military program, follows the life of Joe (Saldaña) the Lioness Program director tasked with training, managing and leading her female undercover operatives while she attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA’s spear in the war on terror. The Lioness Program, overseen by Kaitlyn Meade (Kidman) and Byron Westfield (Kelly), enlists an aggressive Marine Raider named Cruz (De Oliveira) to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism in the CIA’s efforts to thwart the next attack.
Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos and Stephanie Nur as Aaliyah in episode 7 (Photo Credit: Karolina Wojtasik/Paramount+)Stephanie Nur as Aaliyah and Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos In episode 7 (Photo Credit: Karolina Wojtasik/Paramount+)Hannah Love Lanier as Kate and Zoe Saldana as Joe In episode 7 (Photo Credit: Greg Lewis/Paramount+)Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade and Michael Kelly as Byron Westfield In episode 7 (Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+)Zoe Saldana as Joe In episode 7 (Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+)Laysla De Oliveira as Cruz Manuelos and Zoe Saldana as Joe in episode 7 (Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+)Jill Wagner as Bobby and Zoe Saldana as Joe In episode 7 (Photo Credit: Luke Varley/Paramount+)
A cyber attack threatens to expose secrets and open closets that are best kept locked on season three of Apple TV+’s critically acclaimed, award-winning drama The Morning Show. The season three trailer reveals that the network’s under attack and apparently only making a deal with the devil will save UBA.
The cast is led by Jennifer Aniston as Alex Levy and (Reese Witherspoon) as Bradley Jackson. Billy Crudup returns as Cory Ellison, Mark Duplass is Chip Black, Nestor Carbonell is Yanko Flores, Karen Pittman is Mia Jordan, and Greta Lee is Stella Bak. Julianna Margulies plays Laura Peterson, Jon Hamm is Paul Marks (the ‘devil’ in the above paragraph), and Nicole Beharie is Christina Hunter.
Season three premieres on September 13, 2023 with the release of the first two episodes. New episodes of the 10-episode season arrive on Wednesdays.
Apple TV+ has already confirmed the popular series will return for a fourth season.
Charlotte Stoudt serves as showrunner and executive producer. Mimi Leder directs and executive produces. Series stars Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston are also involved as executive producers along with Media Res’ Michael Ellenberg, Kristin Hahn, and Lauren Neustadter.
Jennifer Aniston in ‘The Morning Show’ season 3 (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
The Plot, Courtesy of Apple TV+:
In season three of The Morning Show, the stakes are high as the future of the network is thrown into question and loyalties are pushed to the brink when a tech titan takes an interest in UBA. Unexpected alliances form, private truths are weaponized, and everyone is forced to confront their core values both in and out of the newsroom.
Iain Reid’s bestselling sci-fi thriller Foe springs to life with four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan (Little Women, Lady Bird, Atonement, Brooklyn), Oscar nominee Paul Mescal (Aftersun), and Aaron Pierre (Brother) in starring roles. And if you haven’t read Reid’s novel, it’s guaranteed the trailer will take you by surprise with the reveal of an unusual twist.
Novelist Reid and Garth Davis adapted Foe, with Garth Davis (six-time Oscar nominated Lion) directing. Davis, Kerry Kohansky-Roberts, Emile Sherman, and Iain Canning produced, and Reid, Dawn Olmstead, David Levine, Robert Walak, and Samantha Lang executive produced.
Amazon Studios will release Foe in U.S. theaters on October 6, 2023.
The Plot, Courtesy of Amazon Studios:
Academy Award nominees Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal star in Foe, a haunting exploration of marriage and identity set in an uncertain world. Hen and Junior farm a secluded piece of land that has been in Junior’s family for generations, but their quiet life is thrown into turmoil when an uninvited stranger (Pierre) shows up at their door with a startling proposal.
Foe’s mesmerizing imagery and persistent questions about the nature of humanity (and artificial humanity) bring the not-too-distant future to luminous life.
Hulu’s revised 2023 fall release schedule includes new premiere dates for season three of The D’Amelio Show and the spooky Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House. Living for the Dead, an unscripted paranormal series starring five queer ghost hunters, has landed an October 18, 2023 launch date.
Black Cake, based on The New York Times bestselling book by Charmaine Wilkerson, will debut on November 1, 2023 with the release of the first three episodes. And the comedy thriller Self Reliance starring Jake Johnson and Anna Kendrick has moved off of its September 8 date and will now premiere in November.
FALL 2023 TELEVISION SERIES
Spellbound Part 1 – Premieres August 31, 2023 (13 episodes, all at once)
When Cece Parker Jones, a vivacious 15-year-old 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 Cast: Hailey Melody Romain as Cece Parker-Jones, Margherita Barbieri as Simone Souter, Abigail O’Regan as Mia Banks, Sam Darius as Jack Ryder, Zac Gabriel Werb as Finn Cassidy, Etienne Moana as Benoît Ducasse, Imogen Mackie Walker as Amy, Gomolémo Tsagaé as Lola, Cameron James King as Adrian, Rik Young as Armando Castillo, Raven Dauda as Ginger Jones, Malou Beauvoir as Lizzie Jones, and Charles Baker as Kevin.
Never Let Him Go – Premieres September 6, 2023 (all at once)
In 1988, Scott Johnson, a gay American mathematician, was found dead beneath a cliff in Sydney, Australia. Steve Johnson, Scott’s brother, would spend the next 35 years trying to solve the mystery of Scott’s death. He could have never imagined the tinderbox he would crack open — a wave of anti-gay violence, homophobia, and fear that cast a shadow for decades.
Never Let Him Go delves into Scott Johnson’s extraordinary life and mysterious death and Steve’s dogged, multi-decade quest for justice.
Sinclair Daniel (Nella) and Ashleigh Murray (Hazel) in ‘The Other Black Girl’ (Photo Courtesy of Hulu)
The Other Black Girl – Premieres September 13, 2023 (all at once) The Other Black Girl follows Nella, an editorial assistant, who is tired of being the only Black girl at Wagner Books so she’s excited when Hazel is hired. But as Hazel’s star begins to rise, Nella spirals out and discovers something sinister is going on at the company.
The Cast: Sinclair Daniel, Ashleigh Murray, Brittany Adebumola, Hunter Parrish, with Bellamy Young and Eric McCormack. Garcelle Beauvais is a recurring guest star.
The D’Amelio Show – Premieres September 20, 2023 (two episodes weekly)
While the outside world beckons with bigger and better opportunities for the D’Amelios, their toughest challenges come from within their own relationships. Sisters Dixie and Charli experience their highs and lows together, but without Marc and Heidi to mediate, things come to a head when they can’t see eye-to-eye.
Charli has leapt from phone screens to performing live, but young love and family strife take center stage. Dixie, newly in her single era, is living large as a young celebrity in Hollywood, but will the high life bring her down? And with their futures on the line, the D’Amelios work to build their family business into an empire, but are Dixie and Charli yearning for more independence?
The Cast: Marc D’Amelio, Heidi D’Amelio, Dixie D’Amelio, and Charli D’Amelio.
Love in Fairhope – Premieres September 27, 2023 (all at once) Love in Fairhope is the first-of-its-kind real-life romantic drama, following five generations of women navigating life and love in the picturesque small town of Fairhope, Alabama. In this community, everyone knows everyone else’s business, but no one knows where hopelessly romantic dreams, passions and inspiration will take them all.
The Kardashians – Premieres September 28, 2023 (weekly)
The cameras are back with all access to the personal and private lives of Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall, and Kylie. From second chances and new beginnings to unexpected blessings, they continue to bare it all together, a reminder that the most beautiful part of life is family.
Undead Unluck – Premieres October 6, 2023 (weekly)
What happens when an unlucky girl meets an undead guy? Pure chaos! Tired of inadvertently killing people with her special ability Unluck, Fuko Izumo sets out to end it all. But when she meets Andy, a man who longs for death but can’t die, she finds a reason to live—and he finds someone capable of giving him the death he’s been longing for.
Living for the Dead – Premieres October 18, 2023 (all at once)
From the creators of Queer Eye, five fabulous, queer ghost hunters criss-cross the country, helping the living by healing the dead. As they explore some of the world’s most infamous haunted locations, they’ll shed light on those not seen and illuminate untold stories. Together they’ll push past boundaries to bring acceptance to the misunderstood – living and dead.
This is Living For The Dead, Ghost Hunties!
The Cast: Alex Le May, Juju Bae, Ken Boggle, Logan Taylor, and Roz Hernandez.
FX’s American Horror Stories – Premieres October 26, 2023 (all at once) American Horror Stories, a spin-off of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s award-winning anthology series American Horror Story, is an anthology series featuring a different horror story each episode.
Shoresy – Premieres October 27, 2023 (all at once)
Shoresy (Jared Keeso) and the Sudbury Blueberry Bulldogs of the Northern Ontario Senior Hockey Organization (aka The NOSHO) continue their quest to never lose again.
The Cast: Jared Keeso, Tasya Teles, Harlan Kytwayhat, Blair Lamora, Keilani Rose, Jonathan-Ismael Diaby, Terry Ryan, Ryan McDonell, Max Bouffard, Andrew “The Canon” Antsanen, Jon “Nasty” Mirasty, Brandon Nolan, Jordan Nolan, Keegan Long and Bourke Cazabon.
Fright Krewe – Premieres October 2023 (all at once)
An ancient prophecy and a Voodoo Queen put misfit teens in charge of saving New Orleans from the biggest demonic threat it’s faced in almost two centuries. But, honestly? Saving the world might be easier than becoming friends.
Black Cake – Premieres November 1, 2023 (three episodes at launch, then one episode weekly)
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, from Marissa Jo Cerar, Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Films, and Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment. The story takes place in Jamaica, Italy, Scotland, England and Southern California.
Cerar wrote the adaptation and serves as showrunner on the series, which spans decades. 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.
The Cast: Mia Isaac, Adrienne Warren, Chipo Chung, Ashley Thomas, Lashay Anderson, Faith Alabi, and Glynn Turman. Recurring guest stars include Ahmed Eljah, Simon Wan, and Sonita Henry.
Faraway Downs – Premieres in November 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.
Emma Corrin and Harris Dickinson in ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ (Photo Credit: FX)
FX’s A Murder at the End of the World – Premieres in November 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.
The Cast: Emma Corrin, Clive Owen, Harris Dickinson, Brit Marling, Alice Braga, Joan Chen, Raúl Esparza, Jermaine Fowler, Ryan J. Haddad, Pegah Ferydoni, Javed Khan, Louis Cancelmi, Edoardo Ballerini, Britian Seibert, Christopher Gurr, Kellan Tetlow, Daniel Olson, and Neal Huff.
The Secret Life of Dancing Dogs – Premieres in November 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.
The Artful Dodger – Premieres in Fall 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.
The Cast: Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis, Maia Mitchell, Damon Herriman, Tim Minchin, Miranda Tapsell, Luke Carroll, Kim Gyngell, Vivienne Awosoga, Nicholas Burton, Susie Porter, Damien Garvey, Lucy-Rose Leonard, Jessica De Gouw, and Andrea Demetriades.
Brawn: The Impossible Formula One Story – Premieres in Fall 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.
Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story – Premieres in Fall 2023
WAG (acronym): used to refer to wives and girlfriends of high-profile sports figures. She’s known as one of Britain’s most famous celebrities and wife of England’s record-scoring footballer Wayne Rooney. Uncovering one of the biggest tabloid news stories in Britain for the last decade, it reveals how Coleen turned amateur online sleuth to find an explanation for why private stories concerning herself and her family continued to appear in the media.
The three-part series looks at the circumstances that led to her infamous Instagram post that ‘broke the Internet’ all the way to Coleen successfully defending herself in one of the UK’s highest-profile High Court defamation cases of recent years. As well as the case itself, we will explore how Coleen has had her life played out in public for the last 20 years.
Culprits – Premieres in Fall 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?
The Cast: Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Gemma Arterton, Kirby, Niamh Algar, Kamel El Basha, Tara Abboud, Kevin Vidal, Ned Dennehy, and Eddie Izzard.
Drive with Swizz Beatz – Premieres in Fall 2023
In Drive with Swizz Beatz, hip-hop legend and car collector Swizz Beatz visits car-loving destinations, where he’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.
FALL 2023 FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES
Theater Camp – Premieres September 14, 2023
Tony Award winner Ben Platt and Molly Gordon star in the original comedy Theater Camp as Amos and Rebecca-Diane – lifelong best friends and drama instructors at a rundown camp in upstate New York. When clueless tech-bro Troy (Jimmy Tatro) arrives to run the property (into the ground), Amos, Rebecca-Diane and production manager Glenn (Noah Galvin) band together with the staff and students, staging a masterpiece to keep their beloved summer camp afloat.
The Cast: Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Jimmy Tatro, Patti Harrison, Nathan Lee Graham, Ayo Edebiri, Owen Thiele, Alan Kim, Alexander Bello, Bailee Bonick, Kyndra Sanchez, Donovan Colan, Vivienne Sachs, Quinn Titcomb, Caroline Aaron, and Amy Sedaris.
No One Will Save You – Premieres September 22, 2023
Brynn (Kaitlyn Dever) is a creative and talented young woman who’s been alienated from her community. Lonely but ever hopeful, Brynn finds solace within the walls of the home where she grew up—until she’s awakened one night by strange noises from decidedly unearthly intruders. What follows is an action-packed face-off between Brynn and a host of extraterrestrial beings who threaten her future while forcing her to deal with her past.
Self Reliance – Premieres in November 2023
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.
The Cast: Jake Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Natalie Morales, Andy Samberg, GaTa, Emily Hampshire, Mary Holland, Boban Marjanović, Christopher Lloyd, and Wayne Brady.
Appendage – Premieres in October 2023
Hannah (Hadley Robinson), a young fashion designer, seems fine on the surface, but secretly struggles with debilitating self-doubt. Soon these buried feelings begin to make Hannah physically sick and sprout into a ferocious growth on her body: The Appendage. As Hannah’s health declines, The Appendage begins to fuel her anxieties – her perceived lack of talent at work, her deteriorating relationships with her boyfriend and best friend, and her parents’ lack of love and understanding.
At her breaking point, Hannah makes a shocking discovery — there are others out there like her.
The Cast: Hadley Robinson, Kausar Mohammed, Emily Hampshire, and Brandon Mychal Smith.
The Mill – Premieres in October 2023
In a near future hyper-capitalist America, Joe is a rising star at Mallard, a mega-corporation whose market dominance surpasses Amazon and Apple combined. Devoted to his family and fixated on success, his life unravels into an enigmatic nightmare when he wakes up in an open-air prison cell with no memory of how he got there. Bewilderingly, the prison cell is centered around an archaic grist mill — a stark symbol of relentless labor.
Surrounded by unexplained screams in the darkness and whispers from unseen cellmates, he begins to grapple with the chilling revelation: his omnipotent employer, Mallard, operates this prison. Shrouded in confusion, Joe believes there must be a mix-up. But as the harsh light of day dawns, the horrific reality sets in — this is ‘Advanced Career Training.’
Accused of underperforming, Joe is compelled to push the grist mill to meet a daily quota or face ‘termination.’
The Mill is an Orwellian nightmare steeped in Kafka-esque horror, exploring themes of corporate dehumanization, AI domination, and the erosion of personal freedom. As Joe races against time to escape before his son’s birth, he plunges deeper into the sinister belly of Mallard, confronting startling revelations about its true nature. In a world where profit supersedes humanity, will Joe reclaim his freedom, or be crushed under the weight of the ruthless system that has imprisoned him?
The Cast: Lil Rel Howery, Pat Healy, Karen Obilom, and Patrick Fischler.
Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House – Premieres October 12, 2023
What would it be like to be trapped in a real-life horror movie? Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House follows the story of Russ McKamey. The Navy Veteran turned master of horror, who lures horror enthusiasts into his web. They find themselves pulled into the no-holds-barred world of McKamey Manor – a haunt that doesn’t end until Russ says so.
Originally starting McKamey Manor to satiate his love of Halloween, as the haunt grew in popularity, both on the ground and on social media, so did the severity of Russ’ scare tactics – realizing that he was attracting more and more followers as he did so. By cultivating an online persona and a cult-like following, Russ was allowed to display his basest instincts and rewarded with online fame and notoriety.
Driven by his personal fixations, he turned his backyard haunt into a bona fide torture chamber: videotaping “contestants,” particularly vulnerable young women, as he sees how far he can push them – both inside and outside of the haunt.
Merging documentary storytelling with the visual and cinematic language of a horror film, Monster Inside follows three participants as they dive deep into Russ’s world and then find the will to fight back. By showcasing the reasons why our subjects were pulled into McKamey Manor the film will explore why people make themselves vulnerable to harm. The world of immersive horror is a world of misfits, outsiders and those trying to overcome their trauma.
Through the stories of our main characters, and expert commentary, the film hopes to show how a person’s past could draw them into extreme activity, some forms of which might actually be beneficial, and thus more broadly answer the question: why do we do anything extreme?
Quiz Lady – Premieres 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 Cast: Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, Holland Taylor, Tony Hale, and Will Ferrell.
We Live Here: The Midwest – Premieres in December 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.
Daisy Ridley stars as a woman harboring a terrible secret in the feature film adaptation of Karen Dionne’s bestselling novel The Marsh King’s Daughter. The gripping trailer teases a little too much of the plot, so if you want to go in completely unaware of Ridley’s character’s past, don’t click play.
In addition to Daisy Ridley (the Star Wars franchise), the adaptation stars Emmy Award-winner Ben Mendelsohn (Bloodline), Screen Actors Guild nominee Garrett Hedlund (Mudbound), Caren Pistorius (Unhinged), Brooklynn Prince (The Florida Project), and Gil Birmingham (Yellowstone).
Elle Smith and Mark L. Smith adapted Dionne’s novel and Neil Burger (Divergent, Limitless) directed. Black Bear’s Teddy Schwarzman, Anonymous Content’s Keith Redmon, and Mark L. Smith served as producers. Michael Heimler, Charles Miller, Cliff Roberts, Robert Simonds, Adam Fogelson, John Friedberg, and Samuel J. Brown executive produced. Black Bear provided the finacing.
The Marsh King’s Daughter opens in theaters on October 6, 2023.
Daisy Ridley as Helena Pelletier in ‘The Marsh King’s Daughter’ (Photo Credit: Philippe Bossé)
The Plot, Courtesy of Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions:
In the tense thriller The Marsh King’s Daughter, a woman with a secret past will venture into the wilderness she left behind to confront the most dangerous man she’s ever met: her father. In the film, Helena’s (Daisy Ridley) seemingly ordinary life hides a dark and dangerous truth: her estranged father is the infamous Marsh King (Ben Mendelsohn), the man who kept her and her mother captive in the wilderness for years.
When her father escapes from prison, Helena will need to confront her past. Knowing that he will hunt for her and her family, Helena must find the strength to face her demons and outmaneuver the man who taught her everything she knows about surviving in the wild.
Prime Video released new details on the young superheroes who’ll be the focus of season one of The Boys spinoff, Gen V. The new generation of supes set to be introduced in the spinoff attend Godolkin University, where they work on harnessing their unusual and, in some cases, deadly powers. Of course, they also learn how to cash in on their superhero skills.
Season one will premiere with the release of the first three episodes on September 29, 2023. New episodes arrive on subsequent Fridays.
Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters guide the series as showrunners and executive producers. Eric Kripke, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, Neal H. Moritz, Pavun Shetty, Ken Levin, and Ori Marmur also serve as executive producers.
Additional executive producers on the much-anticipated spinoff include Jason Netter, Garth Ennis, Darick Robertson, Craig Rosenberg, Nelson Cragg, Zak Schwartz, Erica Rosbe, and Michaela Starr.
Lizze Broadway, Jaz Sinclair, and Maddie Phillips in ‘Gen V’ (Photo Credit: Brooke Palmer/Prime Video)
Gen V Character Descriptions:
Jaz Sinclair plays Marie Moreau, an 18-year-old superhero with the ability to control and weaponize her own blood. As an incoming freshman at Vought-run Godolkin University, she is eager to prove she has what it takes to join The Seven, but is sidetracked by a mystery she begins to unravel at the school.
Chance Perdomo plays Andre Anderson, a junior at Godolkin University with magnetic powers. He’s Golden Boy’s best friend and the son of famous superhero, Polarity; Andre has big shoes to fill as he’s set to take over the Polarity name once his dad retires. When Andre realizes that something is afoot at the school, he takes it into his own hands to try and figure out the mystery.
Lizze Broadway plays Emma Meyer, who is also known by her superhero name, Little Cricket, for her ability to get super small. Though insecure and naive, which often leaves her in compromising positions, she becomes close friends with her freshman roommate, Marie, and together they navigate the mysterious dangers at Godolkin University.
Shelley Conn plays Indira Shetty, the dean of Godolkin University. She doesn’t have powers, but her background in superhero psychology and her peerless ability to analyze what makes supes tick make her indispensable to the school. Her goal is to transform Godolkin University into the most elite college for supes and she takes a special interest in Marie when she arrives on campus.
Maddie Phillips plays Cate Dunlap, a junior at Godolkin University who is good friends with Jordan and Andre. Cate is able to push people to do anything she commands using the touch of her hands, which she uses to her advantage. Powerful and confident, she’s also Luke’s girlfriend, making her one of the most popular supes on campus.
London Thor and Derek Luh play Jordan Li, a competitive student at Godolkin University who will do anything to get to the top. They have a unique ability of changing between male and female forms, through which different powers manifest— the man is dense and indestructible, while the woman is agile and can launch energy blasts. Their distinct sets of powers make them a standout TA at Brink’s School of Crime Fighting.
Asa Germann plays Sam, a troubled supe who is desperately trying to escape his unfortunate circumstances. He’s extremely powerful, with super strength and invulnerability. Despite having a good heart, he’s plagued by his hallucinations, which sometimes make it hard for him to discern between what is—and is not—reality.
Patrick Schwarzenegger plays Luke Riordan, who is also known by his superhero name, Golden Boy, because of his ability to light his entire body on fire. He is a senior at Godolkin University and is in the top rank, having the brightest prospects of joining The Seven.
Sean Patrick Thomas plays Polarity, Andre’s father and largely celebrated Godolkin University alumnus and trustee. Polarity expects his son to follow in his footsteps by taking over the Polarity name when he retires. He believes Andre is destined for The Seven and will stop at nothing to make his dream become reality.
Clancy Brown plays Professor Rich “Brink” Brinkerhoff, a renowned professor of crime fighting at Godolkin University who taught superheroes such as A-Train, Queen Maeve, and The Deep. He is dedicated to finding the top new talent at Godolkin University to join The Seven and believes Golden Boy has what it takes to be next.
Marco Pigossi plays Dr. Edison Cardosa, a gifted doctor with ties to Godolkin University.
Prime Video supplied this description of Gen V:
Set in the diabolical world of The Boys, Gen V expands the universe to Godolkin University, the prestigious superhero-only college where students train to be the next generation of heroes — preferably with lucrative endorsements. You know what happens when supes go bad, but not all superheroes start out corrupt. Beyond the typical college chaos of finding oneself and partying, these kids are facing explosive situations … literally.
As the students vie for popularity and good grades, it’s clear that the stakes are much higher when superpowers are involved. When the group of young supes discover that something bigger and sinister is going on at school, they’re put to the test: Will they be the heroes or the villains of their stories?
HBO’s confirmed 100 Foot Wave will continue to wow surfers and non-surfers alike, renewing the documentary series for a third season. “We couldn’t be more excited to continue the journey with our incredible surfers and crew,” said director Chris Smith. “HBO have been amazing partners. Endlessly grateful for their enthusiasm, support, and creative collaboration.”
Season two premiered on April 16, 2023 and earned six Emmy nominations in categories including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, Outstanding Cinematography for a Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Picture Editing for a Nonfiction Program, and Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program. The renewal announcement didn’t indicate when season three is expected to arrive.
Garrett McNamara pictured in ‘100 Foot Wave’ season 2 (Photograph by Hélio António/HBO)
The docuseries follows big wave surfing legend Garrett McNamara, his wife, Nicole, and their friends and fellow surfers in Nazaré, Portugal as they push the boundaries of their sport and the limits of their minds and bodies.
“We’re thrilled the search for the legendary 100 foot wave will continue and excited to expand on the incredible universe of surfers and stories in pursuit. So much gratitude goes to the McNamara family, the big wave community, the brilliant production team, the town of Nazaré, and our amazing partners at HBO for bringing the series to life,” stated executive producer Joe Lewis.
Additional executive producers include Library Films’ Zach Rothfeld and Topic Studios’ Ryan Heller, Michael Bloom, and Maria Zuckerman.
HBO’s finally set a release date and unveiled the first teaser trailer and photos from season two of The Gilded Age, created by Downton Abbey‘s Julian Fellowes. Season two will debut nearly two years after the launch of season one, with HBO setting an October 29, 2023 premiere date.
New episodes of the eight-episode second season will arrive on Sundays at 9pm ET/PT.
Returning season one stars include Carrie Coon, Christine Baranski, Morgan Spector, Cynthia Nixon, Louisa Jacobson, Denée Benton, Taissa Farmiga, Blake Ritson, and Simon Jones. Harry Richardson, Thomas Cocquerel, Jack Gilpin, Ben Ahlers, Michael Cerveris, Kelley Curran, Sullivan Jones, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Debra Monk, Donna Murphy, and Kristine Nielsen also reprise their roles.
The huge, talented season two ensemble includes Kelli O’Hara, Patrick Page, Taylor Richardson, Douglas Sills, Erin Wilhelmi, Nathan Lane, Audra McDonald, John Douglas Thompson, and Ashlie Atkinson.
In addition, Laura Benanti, Nicole Brydon Bloom, Christopher Denham, David Furr, Ward Horton, Matilda Lawler, and Robert Sean Leonard star in season two.
Series creator Julian Fellowes and Sonja Warfield write and executive produce. Gareth Neame, David Crockett, Bob Greenblatt, and Salli Richardson-Whitfield also serve as executive producers along with director Michael Engler.
Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector in ‘The Gilded Age’ season 2 (Photograph by Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO)
HBO offers this description of the upcoming second season:
“The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic change, of great conflict between the old ways and brand new systems, and of huge fortunes made and lost. Season two of The Gilded Age begins on Easter morning 1883, with the news that Bertha Russell’s bid for a box at the Academy of Music has been rejected. Through the eight episodes of the season, we watch as Bertha challenges Mrs. Astor and the old system and works to not only gain a foothold in Society, but to potentially take a leading role in it.
George Russell takes on his own battle with a growing union at his steel plant in Pittsburgh. In the Brook House, Marian continues her journey to find her way in the world, secretly teaching at a girls school, while much to everyone’s surprise Ada begins a new courtship. Of course, Agnes approves of none of it. In Brooklyn, the Scott family begins to heal from a shocking discovery, and Peggy taps into her activist spirit through her work with T. Thomas Fortune at the NY Globe.”
Denée Benton and Sullivan Jones in season 2 (Photograph by Barbara Nitke/HBO)Taissa Farmiga, Carrie Coon, and Donna Murphy in season 2 (Photograph by Barbara Nitke/HBO)Louisa Jacobson, Nathan Lane, and Kelli O’Hara in season 2 (Photograph by Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO)Denée Benton and Sullivan Jones in season 2 (Photograph by Barbara Nitke/HBO)Cynthia Nixon and Robert Sean Leonard in season 2 (Photograph by Barbara Nitke/HBO)Celia Keenan-Bolger in season 2 (Photograph by Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO)Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector in season 2 (Photograph by Barbara Nitke/HBO)
Let’s clarify that…Adam Sandler isn’t a lizard. Rather, Sandler voices a lizard with big dreams of escaping his ordinary life as a classroom pet in the animated musical comedy Leo.
Bill Burr provides the voice of Leo’s turtle sidekick. The voice cast also includes Cecily Strong, Jason Alexander, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Rob Schneider, and Jo Koy. Jackie Sandler, Heidi Gardner, Robert Smigel, Nick Swardson, Stephanie Hsu, and Nicholas Turturro also lend their voices to the family-friendly film.
Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, and David Wachtenheim directed from a screenplay by Smigel, Adam Sandler, and Paul Sado. Geoff Zanelli composed the original score.
Netflix has set a November 21, 2023 premiere date.
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
Actor and comedian Adam Sandler delivers signature laughs in this coming-of-age animated musical comedy about the last year of elementary school as seen through the eyes of a class pet. Jaded 74-year-old lizard Leo (Sandler) has been stuck in the same Florida classroom for decades with his terrarium-mate turtle (Bill Burr). When he learns he only has one year left to live, he plans to escape to experience life on the outside but instead gets caught up in the problems of his anxious students, including an impossibly mean substitute teacher.
It ends up being the strangest but most rewarding bucket list ever!
