Shortly after debuting the A Haunting in Venice teaser trailer at CinemaCon – the annual convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners – 20th Century Studios brought the intense, nearly two-minute trailer online. The studio also released a teaser poster and stills from the upcoming supernatural thriller directed by Kenneth Branagh and based on Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party.
Branagh reprises his role as Hercule Poirot after playing the iconic detective in 2022’s Death on the Nile and 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express. The impressive ensemble also includes Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once), Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone), Jamie Dornan (Belfast, directed by Branagh), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Kyle Allen (Rosaline), Camille Cottin (Call My Agent), Jude Hill (Belfast), Ali Khan (6 Underground), Emma Laird (Mayor of Kingstown), and Riccardo Scamarcio (Caravaggio’s Shadow).
Oscar nominee Michael Green (Logan) adapted Agatha Christie’s novel and Branagh, Judy Hofflund, Ridley Scott, and Simon Kinberg serve as producers. Louise Killin, James Prichard, and Mark Gordon executive produce.
Oscar, Grammy, and BAFTA winner Hildur Guđnadóttir (Joker) will compose the score. Guđnadóttir is the first female composer to win Academy, Golden Globe, and BAFTA awards in the same season.
A Haunting in Venice opens in theaters on September 15, 2023.
A Haunting in Venice is set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve and is a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.
Writer/director Taika Waititi highlights his losing credentials at the beginning of the official Next Goal Wins trailer. He lost out on a Best Picture Oscar for Jojo Rabbit and even missed out on taking home a Teen Choice Award for Thor: Ragnarok. Of course, given that Next Goal Wins is about a team of losers, Waititi refrains from boasting about his Oscar win for Jojo Rabbit‘s screenplay, his Independent Spirit Awards win for Reservation Dogs, or his Writers Guild Awards win.
Next Goal Wins is inspired by a true story that the trailer teases “pretty much actually happened.” Michael Fassbender leads the cast as soccer coach Thomas Rongen, a down-on-his-luck, recently fired coach who is charged with turning around the world’s worst soccer team. Rongen reluctantly takes over head coach duties after the American Samoa soccer team lost to Australia 31-0 in 2001.
The underdog comedy features Elisabeth Moss, Oscar Kightley, Uli Latukefu, and Rachel House. Kaimana, David Fane, Beulah Koale, Chris Alosio, Taika Waititi, Will Arnett, and frequent Waititi collaborator Rhys Darby also star.
Searchlight Pictures will be releasing Next Goal Wins in theaters on November 17, 2023.
The trailer for FX’s Mayans M.C. season five shows that everyone believes EZ (JD Pardo) is going to get more club members killed, and that he’s unwilling to listen to anyone (including his brother). Heavy is the head that the wears the crown, and with EZ in charge, this final season promises more twists, broken alliances, and deaths.
The 10-episode fifth and final season will kick off with two episodes on May 24, 2024 at 10pm ET/PT.
In addition to JD Pardo, the final season cast includes Clayton Cardenas as Angel, Edward James Olmos as Felipe, Michael Irby as Bishop, Danny Pino as Miguel, Emilio Rivera as Marcus, and Vincent Vargas as Gilly. JR Bourne plays Isaac, Carla Baratta is Adelita, Sarah Bolger is Emily, Frankie Loyal stars as Hank, Joseph Lucero is Creeper, Gino Vento is Nestor, Emily Tosta plays Leticia, and Vanessa Giselle is Hope.
The Sons of Anarchy spinoff was created by executive producers Kurt Sutter and Elgin James. JD Pardo as EZ in ‘Mayans M.C.’ season 5 (Photo Credit: FX)
The Season 5 Plot, Courtesy of FX:
Mayans M.C. follows the life of Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes (Pardo), president of the Mayans M.C. charter on the Cali/Mexi border. Once a golden boy with the American Dream in his grasp, EZ has now risen to lead his brother Angel (Cardenas) and the Santo Padre M.C. in a bloody war against their rival Sons of Anarchy. Defending the California territory and patch begins to claim lives within the club and causes strain between EZ and Angel — as one brother devotes himself to the club and the other to family. Felipe (Edward James Olmos) attempts to heal these fractured bonds for the future of the Reyes family.
Season one of ABC’s Will Trent will wrap up with an action-packed, adrenaline-pumping finale. Episode 13, “It Was the 80s,” will air on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 10pm ET/PT.
The series stars Ramón Rodríguez (The Affair) in the title role, Erika Christensen (Ten Days in the Valley) as Angie Polaski, Iantha Richardson (This Is Us) as Faith Mitchell, Jake McLaughlin (Quantico) as Michael Ormewood, and Sonja Sohn (The Chi) as Amanda Wagner.
“It Was the 80s” Plot: When an APD agent goes missing, Will examines the crime scene and locates a secret message putting him back on the path to justice. Meanwhile, with his lineage in question, Will realizes the answers he seeks have been in front of him all along.
Ramon Rodriguez in ‘Will Trent’ episode 13 (ABC/Crystal Power)
Will Trent Synopsis:
Special Agent Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was abandoned at birth and endured a harsh coming-of-age in Atlanta’s overwhelmed foster care system. But now, determined to use his unique point of view to make sure no one is abandoned like he was, Will Trent has the highest clearance rate in the GBI.
Erika Christensen in episode 13 (ABC/Crystal Power)Jake McLaughlin, Iantha Richardson, and Ramon Rodriguez in the season 1 finale (ABC/Crystal Power)Betty in the season 1 finale (ABC/Crystal Power)Betty and Erika Christensen in episode 13 (ABC/Crystal Power)Ramon Rodriguez in the season 1 finale (ABC/Crystal Power)Sonja Sohn in episode 13 (ABC/Crystal Power)
Season one of ABC’s The Rookie: Feds ends with an intense episode featuring a kidnapped agent and a briefcase nuke. Episode 22, “Red One,” will air on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT.
Niecy Nash-Betts stars as Simone Clark, Frankie R. Faison (White Chicks) is Christopher “Cutty” Clark, James Lesure (Las Vegas) is Carter Hope, Britt Robertson (Big Sky) is Laura Stensen, Felix Solis (The International) is Matthew Garza, and Kevin Zegers (Transamerica) is Brendon Acres.
“Red One” Plot: After an internal investigation unit agent is drugged and buried alive in a desert outside of Vegas, the Feds director enlists Garza’s unit to discreetly investigate. Meanwhile, Simone’s plans for her 49th birthday bash are sidelined.
Niecy Nash-Betts and Bevin Bru in ‘The Rookie: Feds’ season 1 episode 22 (ABC/Christopher Willard)
The Rookie: Feds Description:
From the executive producers of flagship series The Rookie comes The Rookie: Feds starring Niecy Nash-Betts as Simone Clark, the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy. The spinoff was introduced as a two-part event during the fourth season of The Rookie, where Officer John Nolan (Nathan Fillion) and the L.A. division of the FBI enlisted the help of Simone Clark when one of her former students was a suspect in a terror attack.
Kevin Zegers and Britt Robertson in season 1 episode 22 (ABC/Christopher Willard)Kevin Zegers and James Lesure in the “Red One” episode (ABC/Christopher Willard)Niecy Nash-Betts and James Lesure in the season one finale (ABC/Christopher Willard)Britt Robertson and Kevin Zegers in the season one finale (ABC/Christopher Willard)Niecy Nash-Betts in season 1 episode 22 (ABC/Christopher Willard)Niecy Nash-Betts and James Lesure in the season 1 finale (ABC/Christopher Willard)
Betsy Brandt (Life in Pieces, Breaking Bad) leads the cast of Fox’s Accused season one episode 14. “Jessie’s Story” will air on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT.
In addition to Betsy Brandt as Kara, episode 14’s cast includes Josh Hamilton as Dominic, Georgie Anne Murphy as Fern, and Bebe Wood as Jessie. Natalie Brown plays Andrea, Keilah Griffiths is Edie, and Skyler Gaertner is Wyatt.
Michael Offer directed “Jessie’s Story” from a script by Maile Meloy.
“Jessie’s Story” Plot: When all her attempts to discover the identity of her biological father hit roadblocks, a teenager takes extreme measures to uncover the truth.
Accused is a collection of 15 intense, topical, and exquisitely human stories of crime and punishment. Each episode is a fast-paced provocative thriller exploring a different crime, in a different city, with an entirely original cast. Based on the BBC’s BAFTA-winning crime anthology, each episode opens in a courtroom on the defendant, with viewers knowing nothing about their crime or how they ended up on trial.
Told from the defendant’s point of view through flashbacks, the show holds a mirror up to current times with evocative and emotional stories. In the end, audiences will discover how an ordinary person gets caught up in extraordinary circumstances and how one impulsive decision can impact the course of that life – and the lives of others – forever.
Rob Lowe’s brother, Chad, returns to guest star on Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star season four episode 15. “Donors” will air on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 8pm ET/PT.
The season four cast is led by Rob Lowe as Captain Owen Strand and Gina Torres as Captain Tommy Vegas. The season also stars Ronen Rubinstein as T.K. Strand, Sierra McClain as Grace Ryder, Jim Parrack as Judd Ryder, Natacha Karem as Marjan Marwani, and Brian Michael Smith as Paul Strickland. Rafael L. Silva is Carlos Reyes, Julian Works is Mateo Chavez, and Brianna Baker plays Nancy Gillian.
Episode 15 guest stars include Tamala Jones, Peter Oldring, Todd Aaron Brotze
“Donors” Plot: Grace and Carlos work together when they suspect a young woman was a victim of a black market organ trafficking ring; Owen’s brother Robert comes to visit and meet T.K., but surprises Owen with news that can affect the Strand family.
Nearly 20 years ago, Owen Strand was the lone survivor of his Manhattan firehouse on 9/11, and in the wake of the attack, was left with the unenviable task of rebuilding the station. After a similar tragedy strikes a firehouse in Austin, Texas, Owen – along with his troubled firefighter son, T.K. – takes his progressive philosophies of life and firefighting down to the Lone Star State to help them start anew.
On the surface, Owen is all about big-city style and swagger, but underneath, he struggles with a secret he hides from the world — one that could very well end his life.
Netflix’s slate of upcoming animated films includes The Monkey King directed by Anthony Stacchi (The Boxtrolls) and Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie – a new SpongeBob SquarePants film. The 2023-2024 slate also includes the animated musical comedy Leo featuring the voice of Adam Sandler, along with a new Chicken Run film, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget.
The streaming service also released details on In Your Dreams, That Christmas, Thelma the Unicorn, Nimona, and Ultraman.
NIMONA – Summer 2023
This summer, Netflix will release the highly anticipated Nimona, based on the bestselling graphic novel by ND Stevenson. Nimona follows Ballister Boldheart, a knight framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and the titular shapeshifter who sets out to help him prove his innocence.
Netflix confirms joining the film’s previously announced cast members Chloë Grace Moretz (Nimona), Riz Ahmed (Ballister Boldheart) and Eugene Lee Yang (Ambrosius Goldenloin) are supporting cast Frances Conroy, Lorraine Toussaint, Beck Bennett, RuPaul Charles, Indya Moore, Julio Torres and Sarah Sherman. Nimona is directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane.
THE MONKEY KING – Summer 2023 The Monkey King is an action-packed family comedy that follows a charismatic Monkey and his magical fighting Stick on an epic quest for victory over 100 demons, an eccentric Dragon King, and Monkey’s greatest foe of all —his own ego! Along the way, a young village girl challenges his self-centered attitude and shows him that even the smallest pebble can have a big effect on the world.
The voice cast includes Jimmy O. Yang, Bowen Yang, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Jo Koy, Ron Yuan, Hoon Lee, Stephanie Hsu, Andrew Pang, Andrew Kishino, Jodi Long, James Sie, and BD Wong. The Boxtrolls‘ Anthony Stacchi directs.
LEO – Fall 2023
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…
The voice cast also includes Cecily Strong, Jason Alexander, Rob Schneider, Sadie Sandler, Sunny Sandler, Jackie Sandler, Heidi Gardner, Nick Swardson, Nicholas Turturro, Robert Smigel, Jo Koy, and Stephanie Hsu. Leo is directed by Robert Smigel, Robert Marianetti, and David Wachtenheim.
CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET – Fall 2023
From the multi Academy and BAFTA award-winning Aardman, and Academy Award and BAFTA-nominated director Sam Fell, comes Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the eagerly anticipated sequel to the beloved and highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, Chicken Run. Having pulled off a death-defying escape from Tweedy’s farm, Ginger has finally found her dream — a peaceful island sanctuary for the whole flock, far from the dangers of the human world.
When she and Rocky hatch a little girl called Molly, Ginger’s happy ending seems complete. But back on the mainland the whole of chicken-kind faces a new and terrible threat. For Ginger and her team, even if it means putting their own hard-won freedom at risk — this time, they’re breaking in!
Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, Bella Ramsey, Imelda Staunton, Lynn Ferguson, David Bradley, Jane Horrocks, Romesh Ranganathan, Daniel Mays, Josie Sedgwick-Davies, and Nick Mohammed lend their voices to the animated project. Sam Fell directs from a screenplay by Karey Kirkpatrick, John O’ Farrell, and Rachel Tunnard.
IN YOUR DREAMS – Coming in 2024
A perfect family? Siblings who get along? Yeah… in your dreams. This is a comedy adventure about Stevie and her brother Elliot who magically travel into the world of dreams with the mission of finding The Sandman who will grant them their ultimate wish — saving their parents’ marriage. The kids are total opposites, making them an unlikely duo to navigate the absurdity of their own subconscious. Along their journey, they discover that as long as they have each other, they can face anything, even their worst nightmare.
Alex Woo directs and Erik Benson is the co-director.
SAVING BIKINI BOTTOM: THE SANDY CHEEKS MOVIE – Coming in 2024
When Bikini Bottom and all its denizens are suddenly scooped out of the ocean, Sandy Cheeks and SpongeBob SquarePants journey to Texas to save the town from a villainous plot.
Directed by Liza Johnson (The Last of Us, A Series of Unfortunate Events, the voice cast includes Carolyn Lawrence, Tom Kenny, Wanda Sykes, Clancy Brown, Bill Fagerbakke, Mr. Lawrence, Rodger Bumpass, Johnny Knoxville, Craig Robinson, Grey DeLisle, Ilia Isorelýs Paulino, and Matty Cardarople.
THAT CHRISTMAS – Coming in 2024
Based on the successful series of children’s books by BAFTA winner and Academy Award nominee Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral), Locksmith Animation’s heartwarming film marks the feature film directorial debut of renowned character animation and story artist veteran Simon Otto (Love, Death & Robots). That Christmas follows a series of entwined tales about love and loneliness, family and friends, and Santa Claus making a big mistake, not to mention an enormous number of turkeys!
THELMA THE UNICORN – Coming in 2024
Thelma is a small-time pony who dreams of becoming a glamourous music star. In a pink and glitter-filled moment of fate, Thelma is transformed into a unicorn and instantly rises to global stardom. But this new life of fame comes at a cost.
Thelma the Unicorn is a hilarious, quirky and heartfelt ride from directors Lynn Wang (Unikitty!) and Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite).
ULTRAMAN – Coming in 2024
Based on the beloved Japanese character, Netflix’s Ultraman follows baseball superstar Ken Sato as he returns to his home country of Japan to pick up the mantle of Earth-defending superhero Ultraman. He soon finds more than he bargained for when he’s forced to raise the offspring of his greatest foe.
Ken must go on a heroic journey, balancing parenthood, his estranged father, and the relentless Kaiju Defense Force to rise beyond his ego and discover what it truly means to be Ultraman.
Shannon Tindle (Lost Ollie) directs and John Aoshima is co-directing.
If the plot of Investigation Discovery’s new docuseries The Curious Case of Natalia Grace sounds familiar, there’s a good reason. Natalia Grace’s case echoes the plot of the 2009 horror thriller, Orphan, starring Isabelle Fuhrman, Vera Farmiga, and Peter Sarsgaard. It’s believed that the true events at the heart of The Curious Case of the Natalia Grace were inspired by the film, which was inspired by a similar case involving Barbora Skrlová.
“This year, we’ve witnessed resounding success with our phenomenal lineup of documentary events and The Curious Case of Natalia Grace is our next, must-watch television limited series,” stated Jason Sarlanis, President, Turner Networks, ID & HLN, Linear & Streaming. “Following the stranger-than-fiction journey of Natalia and her family through a lens that hasn’t been seen before, this gripping content is a great addition to our catalog of blockbuster titles that make ID the ultimate destination for true crime.”
ID’s three-night docuseries will premiere on Monday, May 29, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT.
The Plot, Courtesy of Investigation Discovery:
The new docuseries offers extraordinary access and exclusive insight into a mystery ripped straight from the headlines: Who is Natalia Barnett? Initially assumed to be a 6-year-old Ukrainian orphan with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, a rare bone growth disorder that can result in skeletal abnormalities as well as issues with hearing and vision, Natalia was adopted by Kristine and Michael Barnett in 2010.
However, the happy family dynamic soured when allegations against Natalia were brought by the Barnetts who alleged Natalia was an adult masquerading as a child with intent to harm their family. In 2013, Natalia was discovered living on her own which ignited an investigation that led to Michael and Kristine’s arrest and a firestorm of questions.
Featuring exclusive bombshell interviews with members of Natalia’s adoptive family including father Michael Barnett and brother Jacob Barnett, as well as relatives, friends, legal experts, and neighbors of Natalia and the Barnett family, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace offers a never-before-seen glimpse into the Barnett family, Natalia’s identity, Michael Barnett’s October 2022 trial, as well as key insights into new theories and evidence.
Unfolding over multiple parts and three consecutive nights on ID, the docuseries presents an unparalleled deep dive into this shocking family saga tracing all the way from Natalia’s birth in Ukraine up to the arrest and subsequent legal proceedings around Michael Barnett on charges of neglect.
Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies) and Jack Whitehall (Bad Education) play dual roles as a couple who are shocked to realize that their robot doubles have fallen in love in Robots. It’s really weird that Neon hasn’t done any advertising for Robots, given that it’s set for theatrical release on May 19, 2023. The trailer’s release less than a month out of the film’s premiere is probably the first time most people – other than diehard Woodley or Whitehall fans – will realize this sci-fi comedy exists.
Neon released this very basic synopsis: “Charles is a womanizer while Elaine is a gold digger. The duo learn humanity when forced to team up and pursue robot doubles of themselves.”
The comedy is based on a short story by Robert Sheckley and is co-written and co-directed by Anthony Hines (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm) and Casper Christensen (Klown). Stephen Camel, Julian Favre, Cassian Elwes, Bern Wintersperger, Sascha Kmajac, Lars Sylvest, and Thorsten Schumacher serve as producers.
Robots will arrive in theaters and On Demand on May 19, 2023.
