‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ and ‘Lower Decks’ Earn Early Renewals

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March 28, 2023

Paramount+ didn’t feel the need to wait until season two of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds or season four of Star Trek: Lower Decks premiered to renew both shows for additional seasons. The streaming service confirmed Strange New Worlds will stick around for a 10-episode third season and Lower Decks will be back for season five.

In addition to announcing renewal orders, Paramount+ confirmed Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season two will premiere on Thursday, June 15, 2023. Season four of Star Trek: Lower Decks will arrive this summer, however, the streaming service didn’t reveal the date.

Star Trek: Prodigy season two is expected to debut this winter.

The upcoming season of Strange New Worlds will feature a hybrid live-action/animated crossover episode with Lower Decks‘ Tawny Newsome as Ensign Beckett Mariner and Jack Quaid as Ensign Brad Boimler. Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek: Picard actor/director) directs the crossover.

More on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2:

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is based on the years Captain Christopher Pike manned the helm of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The series features fan favorites Anson Mount as Captain Christopher Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Number One, and Ethan Peck as Science Officer Spock. The series follows Captain Pike, Science Officer Spock, and Number One in the years before Captain Kirk boarded the U.S.S. Enterprise, as they explore new worlds around the galaxy.

The cast also includes Jess Bush as Nurse Christine Chapel, Christina Chong as La’an Noonien-Singh, Celia Rose Gooding as Cadet Nyota Uhura, Melissa Navia as Lt. Erica Ortegas, and Babs Olusanmokun as Dr. M’Benga. Season two also features the return of special guest star Paul Wesley as James T. Kirk and new addition Carol Kane in a recurring role as Pelia.

Star Wars: Lower Decks — A scene from ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks’ (Photo © 2022 CBS Interactive, Inc)

Star Trek: Lower Decks Details:

Created by Emmy Award winner Mike McMahan (Rick and Morty), in season four of Star Trek: Lower Decks, an unknown force is destroying starships and threatening galactic peace. Luckily, the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos isn’t important enough for stuff like that! Instead, Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Tendi, Rutherford, and Provisional Ensign T’Lyn are keeping up with their Starfleet duties, avoiding malevolent computers, and getting stuck in a couple of caves – all while encountering new and classic aliens along the way.

The Starfleet crew residing in the “lower decks” of the U.S.S. Cerritos includes Ensign Beckett Mariner, voiced by Tawny Newsome; Ensign Brad Boimler, voiced by Jack Quaid; Ensign Tendi, voiced by Noël Wells; and Ensign Rutherford, voiced by Eugene Cordero. The Starfleet characters that comprise the U.S.S. Cerritos’ bridge crew include Captain Carol Freeman, voiced by Dawnn Lewis; Commander Jack Ransom, voiced by Jerry O’Connell; Lieutenant Shaxs, voiced by Fred Tatasciore; and Doctor T’Ana, voiced by Gillian Vigman.

Zendaya Earns CinemaCon’s Star of the Year Award

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Rebecca Murray

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March 28, 2023

CinemaCon’s named two-time Emmy Award winner Zendaya (Euphoria) as this year’s Star of the Year Award recipient. Zendaya will be presented with the award during CinemaCon’s Big Screen Achievement Awards ceremony on April 27, 2023 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

“In just a few short years, Zendaya has captured audiences’ attention with her compassionate performance on the small screen as Rue in Euphoria and has drawn audiences in on the big screen with her performances in Spider-Man: Far From Home, The Greatest Showman, and Dune,” stated Mitch Neuhauser, Managing Director of CinemaCon. “We could not be more honored to present Zendaya with this year’s CinemaCon Star of the Year Award.”

CinemaCon is the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO). This year’s event will take place from April 24 – April 27.

Zendaya has earned five Emmy nominations, winning twice in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category for her performance as Rue in Euphoria. She currently holds the record as the youngest woman to win in that category.

Zendaya was also nominated for three Critics Choice Awards, winning two. The CCA also recognized her with the SeeHer Award in 2021. The special honor is given to a woman who advocates for gender equality, portrays characters with authenticity, defies stereotypes, and pushes boundaries.

Zendaya recently finished work on the romantic sports drama Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino (Bones and All, Call Me by Your Name) and starring Mike Faist (West Side Story) and Josh O’Connor (The Crown, God’s Own Country).

Dune Cast Photo — Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, and Timothee Chalamet in ‘Dune: Part One’ (Photo Credit: Chiabella James © 2020 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc)

Zendaya will next be seen reprising her role as Chani in the much-anticipated Dune: Part Two opening in theaters on November 3, 2023. The sci-fi thriller stars Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica Atreides, Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban Harkonnen, and Javier Bardem as Stilgar. Florence Pugh plays Princess Irulan Corrino and Austin Butler is Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.

Dune: Part Two explores the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

‘Succession’ Final Season Premiere Sets Series Record

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Rebecca Murray

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March 28, 2023

HBO’s Succession kicked off its fourth and final season with an episode that set a series-high record number of viewers. Succession‘s third season wrapped up in December 2021, and fans have been anxiously awaiting this fourth season to find out which Roy will emerge as the winner in the brutal battle over the family’s multi-billion dollar media empire.

According to HBO, Succession season four, episode one, set a series high by pulling in 2.3 million viewers across HBO Max and linear telecasts. Viewership of the final season’s premiere was up 62% compared to season three’s first episode. Plus, the numbers were up 33% compared to last season’s finale.

Overall, season three averaged 7.2 million viewers across all platforms.

The 10-episode fourth season stars Brian Cox as Logan Roy, Jeremy Strong as Kendall, Sarah Snook as Siobhan, Kieran Culkin as Roman, and Alan Ruck as Connor. Matthew Macfadyen plays Tom Wambsgans, Nicholas Braun is Greg Hirsch, J. Smith-Cameron is Gerri Kellman, and Peter Friedman is back as Frank Vernon.

Additional returning cast members include David Rasche, Fisher Stevens, Hiam Abbass, Justine Lupe, Dagmara Domińczyk, Arian Moayed, Scott Nicholson, Zoë Winters, Annabelle Dexter-Jones, Juliana Canfield, and Jeannie Berlin. Alexander Skarsgård, Cherry Jones, Hope Davis, Justin Kirk, and Stephen Root will also reprise their roles for season four.

Jesse Armstrong created the award-winning drama and serves as showrunner and executive producer. Adam McKay, Frank Rich, Kevin Messick, Jane Tranter, Mark Mylod, Tony Roche, Scott Ferguson, Jon Brown, Lucy Prebble, Will Tracy, and Will Ferrell also serve as executive producers.

New episodes air on Sundays at 9pm ET/PT.

The Succession Season 4 Plot, Courtesy of HBO:

Succession explores themes of power and family dynamics through the eyes of patriarch Logan Roy and his four grown children, Kendall, Siobhan, Roman, and Connor.

The sale of media conglomerate Waystar Royco to tech visionary Lukas Matsson moves ever closer. The prospect of this seismic sale provokes existential angst and familial division among the Roys as they anticipate what their lives will look like once the deal is complete. A power struggle ensues as the family weighs up a future where their cultural and political weight is severely curtailed.

‘Quantum Leap’ Episode 18 Photos, Cast, and Season Finale Promo

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Rebecca Murray

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March 28, 2023

Season one of NBC’s popular primetime sci-fi drama Quantum Leap comes to an end with episode 18, “Judgment Day.” Episode 18 will air on Monday, April 3, 2023 at 10pm ET/PT.

Season one stars Raymond Lee (Kevin Can F**k Himself) as physicist Ben Song and Caitlin Bassett as Addison. Ernie Hudson (The Family Business) plays Herbert “Magic” Williams, Mason Alexander Park (The Sandman) is Ian Wright, and Nanrisa Lee (First Love) plays Jenn Chou.

“Judgment Day” Plot: Ben’s final leap of the season takes him closer to home than he ever expected. The team faces the ultimate showdown with Leaper X as they battle for the future of the Quantum Leap project and their lives.

Quantum Leap Episode 18 — Raymond Lee as Dr. Ben Song in ‘Quantum Leap’ episode 18 (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)

Season One Synopsis:

It’s been nearly 30 years since Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap accelerator and vanished. Now, a new team, led by physicist Ben Song (Lee), has been assembled to restart the project in hope of understanding the mysteries behind the machine and the man who created it.

Everything changes, however, when Ben makes an unauthorized leap into the past, leaving the team behind to solve the mystery of why he did it. At Ben’s side throughout his leaps is Addison (Bassett), who appears in the form of a hologram only Ben can see and hear. She’s a decorated Army veteran who brings level-headed precision to her job.

At the helm of the highly confidential operation is Herbert “Magic” Williams (Hudson), a no-nonsense career military man who has to answer to his bosses who won’t be happy once they learn about the breach of protocol. The rest of the team at headquarters includes Ian Wright (Park), who runs the Artificial Intelligence unit “Ziggy,” and Jenn Chou (Lee), who heads up digital security for the project.

As Ben leaps from life to life, putting right what once went wrong, it becomes clear that he and the team are on a thrilling journey. However, Addison, Magic, Ian and Jenn know that if they are going to solve the mystery of Ben’s leap and bring him home, they must act fast or lose him forever.

‘Yellowjackets’ Season 2 Episode 2 Photos, Cast, Promo, and Air Date

By

Rebecca Murray

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March 28, 2023

The much-anticipated season two premiere of the critically acclaimed drama Yellowjackets posted the biggest streaming and on-demand numbers for any season premiere on Showtime. Showtime also reports season two episode one was up 40% over the season one finale in cross-platform viewing.

“Yellowjackets broke records as the most streamed Showtime debut ever thanks to Ashley (Lyle), Bart (Nickerson), Jonathan (Lisco), and our extraordinary ensemble cast who brought season two to even greater heights,” stated Chris McCarthy, President/CEO, Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks. “By tapping into our proven strategy of promoting series across our full portfolio of brands at Paramount Media Networks, we successfully broadened the reach and brought new viewers into this incredible series that deftly combines psychological horror, dark comedy, and coming-of-age drama.”

Episode two, “Edible Complex,” premieres on Paramount+ on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 12am PT/3am ET and on Showtime on Sunday, April 2 at 9pm ET/PT.

“Edible Complex” Plot: The Yellowjackets barely made it through summer in the woods, but as winter arrives, their hunger and desperation turn into full-on psychosis; twenty-five years later, the survivors ask whether the darkness comes for them or if it comes from them.

The season two cast includes Emmy nominee Juliette Lewis as Natalie, Critics Choice Award winner Melanie Lynskey as Shauna, Emmy nominee Christina Ricci as Misty, and Tawny Cypress as Taissa. Sophie Nélisse is Teen Shauna, Jasmin Savoy Brown is Teen Taissa, Sophie Thatcher is Teen Natalie, Samantha Hanratty is Teen Misty, and Courtney Eaton is Teen Lottie.

The cast also includes Liv Hewson as Teen Van, Steven Krueger as Ben Scott, Warren Kole as Jeff, and Kevin Alves as Teen Travis. Newcomers Lauren Ambrose and Simone Kessell are season two regulars, with Elijah Wood handling a season-long guest-starring arc.

Yellowjackets Season 2 Episode 2 — Sophie Thatcher as Teen Natalie and Kevin Alves as Teen Travis in ‘Yellowjackets’ season 2 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Kailey Schwerman / SHOWTIME)

Yellowjackets Synopsis, Courtesy of Showtime:

Created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson (Narcos), Yellowjackets is the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over.

In season two, two months have passed since Shauna gave Jackie the cold shoulder— to disastrous results. In the face of their deepening hunger and fear, the tension among our Yellowjackets has only grown worse. The harsh conditions of winter are intensifying by the day, and the psyches of our survivors are deteriorating just as fast. Threatened by the darkness of the wilderness — and the haunting memories of it in the present — our former state champs will be forced to make impossible decisions.

As they confront the horrible truth of what survival entails, the real nightmare for each of them will be to figure out who they are — and what they are willing to sacrifice in order to stay alive.

‘Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures’ Shorts Tease the New Animated Series

By

Rebecca Murray

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March 27, 2023

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Poster — Master Yoda, Lys Solay, Kai Brightstar Nubs, RJ-83, and Nash Durango in ‘Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures’ (Photo © 2023 Lucasfilm Ltd)

Disney+ and Disney Junior are teasing their upcoming animated series Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures with three new short videos and a colorful season one poster. The poster features Jedi younglings Kai Brightstar, Lys Slay, Nubs, Master Yoda, Nash Durango, and RJ-83. And the three shorts show off the young Jedi who reside on Tenoo.

Jamaal Avery, Jr. voices Kai Brightstar, Juliet Donenfeld voices Lys Solay, Dee Bradley Baker voices Nubs, Emma Berman voices Nash Durango, Jonathan Lipow voices RJ-83, and Piotr Michael voices Master Yoda. Puppy Dog Pals‘ Michael Olson is the showrunner and executive produces along with Lucasfilm’s James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes.

Disney+ offered this description of the new series:

“Set during The High Republic era, the animated series follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way.”

The series is set to premiere on May the 4th (Star Wars Day).

“Star Wars transcends generations; fans of all ages deeply connect with its imaginative worlds, mythic stories, and unique characters,” said James Waugh, executive producer and Senior Vice President Franchise Content & Strategy at Lucasfilm. “When developing Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, the first Star Wars series created for preschoolers, the creative team never stopped thinking about how this show may be a ‘youngling’s’ first step into a larger world and their first time experiencing the limitless potential of the Star Wars galaxy.

Waugh added: “The show’s characters, tone, and the life lessons woven throughout each episode were written just for them, and our talented team was committed to honoring the cinematic legacy while staying true to the expectations of parents for the youngest of audiences.”

‘SNL’ Taps Ana de Armas and Molly Shannon as April Hosts

By

Rebecca Murray

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March 27, 2023

Ana de Armas and Molly Shannon have been tapped to host April 2023 episodes of Saturday Night Live. SNL previously announced Emmy Award winner Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary) will make her hosting debut with the April 1st episode.

Lil Yachty joins Brunson as musical guest, marking the artist’s first time on the SNL stage. Lil Yachty’s recent album, Let’s Start Here, hit the #1 spot on Billboard’s rock and alternative charts.

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Molly Shannon will guide the April 8th episode as host. Shannon’s been keeping super busy starring in HBO Max’s The Other Two and the feature film A Good Person starring Florence Pugh and written and directed by Zach Braff. A Good Person opened in theaters on March 24 and season three of The Other Two premieres on May 4th.

Shannon’s April 8th hosting gig will mark her second time as host. Shannon will be joined by the Jonas Brothers who’ll be returning as musical guests for the third time. They’ll be dropping their new album The Album on May 12th.

Ana de Armas, who earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for playing Marilyn Monroe in Blonde, will make her SNL hosting debut on April 15th. De Armas will next be seen in the action comedy Ghosted with Chris Evans, premiering on Apple TV+ on April 21st.

Karol G will also be making her SNL debut as a musical guest on April 15th.

‘Magnum PI’ Season 5 Episode 8 Photos, Cast, and “Dark Skies” Promo

By

Rebecca Murray

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March 27, 2023

Magnum’s being targeted by Captain Greene’s killer on NBC’s Magnum P.I. season five episode eight. “Dark Skies” will air on Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT.

Jay Hernandez leads the cast as Thomas Magnum, Perdita Weeks is Juliet Higgins, Zachary Knighton stars as Orville ‘Rick’ Wright, Stephen Hill is Theodore ‘TC’ Calvin, Amy Hill is Kumu, and Tim Kang plays Det. Gordon Katsumoto.

“Dark Skies” Plot: Magnum and Rick make a shocking discovery in the Capt. Greene case. Higgins and TC head to Maui to help an eccentric billionaire find the owner of a pesky drone harassing him. Shammy helps Kumu after an incident occurs at La Mariana.

Magnum PI Season 5 Episode 8 — Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum in ‘Magnum PI’ season 5 episode 8 (Photo by: Zack Dougan/NBC)

The Season 5 Plot, Courtesy of NBC:

Magnum P.I. is a modern take on the classic series centering on Thomas Magnum, a decorated former Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. A charming rogue, an American hero and a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan, Magnum lives in a guest cottage on Robin’s Nest, the luxurious estate where he works as a security consultant to supplement his P.I. business.

The “majordomo” of the property is Juliet Higgins, a beautiful and commanding disavowed MI:6 agent whose second job is to keep Magnum in line, with the help of her two Dobermans. When Magnum needs backup on a job, he turns to his trusted buddies and fellow POW survivors Theodore ‘TC’ Calvin, a former Marine chopper pilot who runs Island Hoppers, a helicopter tour business, and Orville “Rick” Wright, a former Marine door-gunner-turned-impresario of Oahu’s coolest nightclub and the most connected man on the island.

With keys to a vintage Ferrari in one hand, aviator sunglasses in the other, and an Old Düsseldorf longneck chilling in the fridge, Thomas Magnum is back on the case!

Jessica Chastain to Star in Apple TV+’s ‘The Savant’ Limited Series

By

Rebecca Murray

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March 27, 2023

Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain is teaming up with Apple TV+ for The Savant, the streaming service’s new limited series. Chastain is committed to starring in The Savant and is also on board as an executive producer on the series, which is inspired by a true story.

Apple TV+ announced the eight-episode series but didn’t release any details on the plot. What’s known is that it’s inspired by a true story published by Cosmopolitan. The August 2019 article by Andrea Stanley titled “Is It Possible to Stop a Mass Shooting Before It Happens?” focuses on a top secret investigator known as the Savant who infiltrates online hate groups to take down the most violent men in the country.

Stanley is involved in the series as a consultant.

Emmy Award nominee Melissa James Gibson (House of Cards) will write and serve as showrunner. The FIFTH SEASON and Anonymous Content limited series is executive produced by Freckle Films’ Chastain and Kelly Carmichael, Gibson, and Cosmopolitan‘s Editor-in-Chief Jessica Giles. Oscar nominee and Emmy Award winner Matthew Heineman (Cartel Land) will direct and executive produce, with Hearst Magazines SVP of Development Brian Madden serving as a producer.

Jessica Chastain was nominated for Oscars for her performances in The Help and Zero Dark Thirty and won the Best Actress Oscar for The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Chastain’s also earned three Critics Choice awards, two National Board of Review awards, and three Screen Actors Guild awards.

Chastain’s credits include George & Tammy, The Good Nurse, Armageddon Time, and The Forgiven. Jessica Chastain recently finished work on Memory with Peter Sarsgaard and Mothers’ Instinct with Anne Hathaway.

Trailer, Plot Details, and Premiere Date

‘Fear the Walking Dead’ Season 8 Preview – Photos, Trailer, Cast, and Plot Details

By

Rebecca Murray

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March 27, 2023

AMC brought Fear the Walking Dead and the new The Walking Dead spinoff The Walking Dead: Dead City to the 2023 WonderCon held March 24-26 in Anaheim, CA. While Dead City made its WonderCon debut, this year’s panel for Fear the Walking Dead marks its final time appearing at what’s referred to as the smaller, more low-key version of the massive San Diego Comic-Con.

Series stars Kim Dickens, Jenna Elfman, and Christine Evangelista joined co-showrunner Ian Goldberg and executive producer Michael Satrazemis for the show’s final season panel. AMC used the WonderCon panel to debut the season eight trailer, and the network also released a new poster and photos online. And during the panel, Goldberg confirmed season eight includes a seven-year time jump.

Season eight will premiere on Sunday, May 14, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT on AMC and AMC+. The final season is split into two parts, with the final batch of six episodes expected to arrive later this year.

In addition to Dickens, Elfman, and Evangelista, the final season will star Lennie James, Colman Domingo, Danay Garcia, Austin Amelio, Karen David, and Rubén Blades. Showrunners Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg executive produce along with Satrazemis, Scott Gimple, Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Greg Nicotero, and David Alpert.

Fear the Walking Dead Season 8 Poster — Lennie James as Morgan Jones, Kim Dickens as Madison Clark in ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ season 8 (Photo Credit: Brendan Meadows/AMC)

The Plot: Fear the Walking Dead’s eighth season begins after the conclusion of season seven when Morgan’s (Lennie James) and Madison’s (Dickens) hopes to rescue Mo from PADRE did not go as planned. Now, Morgan, Madison, and the others they brought to the island are living under PADRE’s cynical rule. With our characters demoralized and dejected, the task of reigniting belief in a better world rests with the person Morgan and Madison set out to rescue in the first place — Morgan’s daughter, Mo.