It’s about time the world had an R-rated talking dog film, am I right? Strays follows three homeless canines who accept a newbie to the streets into their pack. They convince Reggie, the newly homeless dog, that his owner dumped him and the not-safe-for-work trailer reveals just how Reggie plans to exact revenge.
Will Ferrell lends his voice to Reggie, Jamie Foxx is Bugg, Isla Fisher is Maggie, and Randall Park is Hunter. The voice cast also includes Will Forte (as the human target of Reggie’s revenge), Josh Gad, Harvey Guillén, Brett Gelman, Rob Riggle, Jamie Demetriou, and Sofia Vergara.
Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar‘s Josh Greenbaum directs from a screenplay by Dan Perrault (American Vandal). Picturestart founder and CEO Erik Feig, Louis Leterrier, Dan Perrault, Lord Miller partners Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and Lord Miller President of Film Aditya Sood produce. Jessica Switch, Nikki Baida, and Julia Hammer serve as executive producers.
Universal Pictures is unleashing Strays in theaters on Friday, August 18, 2023. (The release was originally scheduled for June 9, 2023, but moved to August on May 8, 2023.)
The Plot:
They say a dog is a man’s best friend, but what if the man is a total dirtbag? In that case, it might be time for some sweet revenge, doggy style.
When Reggie (Ferrell), a naïve, relentlessly optimistic Border Terrier, is abandoned on the mean city streets by his lowlife owner, Doug (Forte), Reggie is certain that his beloved owner would never leave him on purpose.
But once Reggie falls in with a fast-talking, foul-mouthed Boston Terrier named Bug (Foxx), a stray who loves his freedom and believes that owners are for suckers, Reggie finally realizes he was in a toxic relationship and begins to see Doug for the heartless sleazeball that he is.
Determined to seek revenge, Reggie, Bug and Bug’s pals — Maggie (Fisher), a smart Australian Shepherd who has been sidelined by her owner’s new puppy, and Hunter (Park), an anxious Great Dane who’s stressed out by his work as an emotional support animal — together hatch a plan and embark on an epic adventure to help Reggie find his way home … and make Doug pay by biting off the appendage he loves the most. (Hint: It’s not his foot).
Prime Video’s bringing Taylor Jenkins Reid’s bestselling novel Daisy Jones & The Six to life in a limited series starring Riley Keough (The Terminal List) as Daisy and Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games franchise) as Billy Dunne, the lead singer/songwriter of The Six. The teaser trailer offers a taste of what’s in store and features “Regret Me,” one of the series’ 24 original songs.
Filling out The Six are Will Harrison as guitarist Graham Dunne, Suki Waterhouse as keyboardist Karen Sirko, Josh Whitehouse as bassist Eddie Roundtree, and Sebastian Chacon as drummer Warren Rojas. The limited series’ cast also includes Camila Morrone as Camila Dunne, Nabiyah Be as Simone Jackson, and Tom Wright as Teddy Price. Timothy Olyphant pops up in a guest-starring role as Rod Reyes.
Author Taylor Jenkins Reid’s fascination with the breakup of the Civil Wars in 2014, as well as Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham’s complicated relationship, helped fuel her interest in writing a novel about the destruction of a band at the height of their popularity.
In an interview with Marie Claire, author Taylor Jenkins Reid described Daisy Jones & The Six as being about navigating the world as a woman in a man’s world. “There are a lot of women in this story who are fighting for their right to be exactly who they are without judgment or control,” said Jenkins Reid. “I wanted to tell this story in Los Angeles, and I wanted to tell it during a period of time we know of as being a great time for rock.”
Jenkins Reid’s novel was one of Reese Witherspoon’s book club picks, and Witherspoon and her production company Hello Sunshine secured the rights prior to the novel hitting bookshelves.
“As soon as I started reading Daisy Jones & The Six, I immediately fell head over heels in love with it, and I’m thrilled to be bringing it to the screen with Amazon and Jen Salke, whose passionate pursuit of the material spoke volumes,” explained Witherspoon in July 2018. “With (Scott) Neustadter and (Michael H.) Weber, two writers I deeply admire, stewarding this project, I am so confident that Daisy and her band’s journey toward finding their voice will leave just as permanent a mark with viewers around the world as it did with me.”
Sebastian Chacon (Warren Rojas), Will Harrison (Graham Dunne), Josh Whitehouse (Eddie Roundtree) Suki Waterhouse (Karen Sirko), and Sam Claflin (Billy Dunne) in ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’ (Photo Credit: Lacey Terrell/Prime Video)
Scott Neustadter and Will Graham serve as co-showrunners and executive produce along with Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine and Brad Mendelsohn for Circle of Confusion. Executive producer James Ponsoldt directed five episodes, Nzingha Stewart directed four, and Graham directed one.
The Plot: Based on the best-selling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Daisy Jones & The Six is a limited musical-drama series detailing the rise and precipitous fall of a renowned rock band. In 1977, Daisy Jones & The Six were on top of the world. Fronted by two charismatic lead singers — Daisy Jones (Riley Keough) and Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin) — the band had risen from obscurity to fame. And then, after a sold-out show at Chicago’s Soldier Field, they called it quits.
Now, decades later, the band members finally agree to reveal the truth. This is the story of how an iconic band imploded at the height of its powers.
Grammy winning songwriter/producer Blake Mills executive produced the music from the series and recorded the band’s pivotal album, Aurora, with Riley Keough, Sam Claflin, and other collaborators at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, CA.
“Creating the library of music for Daisy Jones and The Six was an experience I’ll never forget,” said Mills. “I am grateful that, among other things, it afforded me an opportunity to collaborate with so many of my peers, and also some of my heroes.”
“We finally have Aurora. A stunning, nostalgic, timeless album that captures the drama, pathos, and yearning of the band’s zenith and nadir all in one. A snapshot of time, intoxicating and dangerous. That delicious moment that you know can’t last… Daisy Jones and The Six are real. And they are better than my wildest dreams,” said author Jenkins Reid.
Aurora will be released on Friday, March 3, 2023 on vinyl and across all DSPs.
DAISY JONES & THE SIX – AURORA TRACKLIST:
1. Aurora
2. Let Me Down Easy
3. Kill You To Try
4. Two Against Three
5. Look At Us Now (Honeycomb)
6. Regret Me
7. You Were Gone
8. More Fun To Miss
9. Please
10. The River
11. No Words
Riley Keough as Daisy Jones and Sam Claflin as Billy Dunne (Photo Credit: Lacey Terrell/Prime Video)Sebastian Chacon (Warren Rojas), Will Harrison (Graham Dunne), Josh Whitehouse (Eddie Roundtree) Suki Waterhouse (Karen Sirko), and Sam Claflin (Billy Dunne) – Photo Credit: Lacey Terrell/Prime Video)Sam Claflin as Billy Dunne (Photo Credit: Lacey Terrell/Prime Video)Josh Whitehouse (Eddie Roundtree), Suki Waterhouse (Karen Sirko), Sebastian Chacon (Warren Rojas), Sam Claflin (Billy Dunne), Riley Keough (Daisy Jones), and Will Harrison (Graham Dunne) – Photo Credit: Lacey Terrell/Prime VideoSam Claflin (Billy Dunne) and Riley Keough (Daisy Jones) – Photo Credit: Lacey Terrell/Prime VideoJosh Whitehouse (Eddie Roundtree), Sebastian Chacon (Warren Rojas), Riley Keough (Daisy Jones), Will Harrison (Graham Dunne), Suki Waterhouse (Karen Sirko), and Sam Claflin (Billy Dunne) – Photo Credit: Lacey Terrell/Prime VideoCamila Morrone as Camila Dunne, Sam Claflin as Billy Dunne, and Riley Keough as Daisy Jones (Photo Credit: Pamela Littky/Prime Video)
Colman Domingo signs on to star in Netflix’s ‘The Madness’ (Photo Courtesy of Netflix)
Fear the Walking Dead‘s Colman Domingo will star in The Madness, a limited series just greenlit at Netflix. The conspiracy thriller was created by Stephen Belber (The Laramie Project) and is part of Chernin Entertainment’s first look deal with the streaming service.
Belber and VJ Boyd (Justified) are co-showrunners of the eight-episode series, and both serve as executive producers along with Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Kaitlin Dahill.
“Stephen Belber and VJ Boyd thrive in creating suspense-driven emotional stories that connect with broad audiences. We look forward to seeing them bring this timely conspiracy thriller to life and to continue our partnership with Netflix,” stated Chernin Entertainment President Jenno Topping.
Executive producer Clément Virgo (Greenleaf) will direct the first two episodes as well as the last two episodes. Quyen Tran (Maid) and Jessica Lowrey (Perry Mason) will each direct two episodes each.
“The Madness is a fresh take on the conspiracy thriller – turning the genre on its head with its multi-layered characters, propulsive action, and swift pace. We are proud to have such a powerhouse team assembled to bring this dynamic story to life for Netflix viewers around the world, and to continue producing great entertainment with team Chernin,” said Peter Friedlander, Vice President of Scripted Series, Netflix, US and Canada.
Netflix released this description of the limited series:
“In The Madness, media pundit Muncie Daniels (Domingo) must fight for his innocence and his life after he stumbles upon a murder deep in the Poconos woods. As the walls close in, Muncie strives to reconnect with his estranged family – and his lost ideals – in order to survive.”
Colman Domingo won an Emmy in the Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series category for his performance in Euphoria. Domingo will next be seen in Rustin, directed by George C Wolfe and based on the life of gay rights activist Bayard Rustin. He also recently completed work on The Color Purple with Taraji P. Henson, Halle Bailey, H.E.R., and Corey Hawkins.
The Scream VI Super Bowl trailer shows off more intense footage and reveals more of the Ghostface Killer’s shrine. Plus, it teases the potential victims’ plans to lure the killer in and execute him.
The Big Game spot also advertises that tickets are now on sale ahead of the film’s March 10, 2023 release in theaters.
For Scream fans who don’t want to wait until March 10th, Paramount Pictures and Spyglass are hosting a special 3D Fan Event taking place on Thursday, March 9, 2023. The sixth entry in the franchise marks the first to be released in 3D, and the fan event will feature special content created just for the special screening.
“Scream fans are among the most loyal and passionate out there, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring them this latest terrifying chapter like never before, in a visceral 3D format,” stated Paramount Pictures President of Domestic Distribution Chris Aronson. “In this iteration, the Scream universe moves beyond Woodsboro and into New York City, and the Big Apple called for even bigger scares, surprises, and frightening turns. We can’t wait for fans to see what Ghostface has in store for them this time.”
The screening will take place at 5pm local time. Ticket information’s available at www.screammovie.com/seeitfirst.
Melissa Barrera (“Sam Carpenter”) and Jenna Ortega (“Tara Carpenter”) stars in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Scream VI.’
Melissa Barrera (“Sam Carpenter”), Jasmin Savoy Brown (“Mindy Meeks-Martin”), Mason Gooding (“Chad Meeks-Martin”), Jenna Ortega (“Tara Carpenter”), Hayden Panettiere (“Kirby Reed”), and original Scream star Courteney Cox (“Gale Weathers”) return for the latest entry in the franchise. Newbies include Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, and Samara Weaving.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Scream 6 picks up as the four survivors of the most recent Ghostface killings leave Woodsboro to start a fresh chapter.
James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick wrote the screenplay, based on characters created by Kevin Williamson. William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein serve as producers, with Williamson, Chad Villella, Gary Barber, Peter Oillataguerre, Courteney Cox, Ron Lynch, Cathy Konrad, and Marianne Maddalena executive producing.
Carlos’s life is in jeopardy on Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star season four episode four. “Abandoned” will air on Tuesday, February 14, 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.
“Abandoned” Plot: As Owen wears an FBI wire for his meeting with O’Brien, The Honor Dogs crash the meet-up and let them know there’s an infiltrator in their midst. A frantic TK desperately searches for a missing and held captive Carlos.
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.
Fox’s new single-camera workplace comedy Animal Control joins the network’s primetime lineup on February 16, 2023 at 9pm ET/PT. The series stars Emmy Award nominee Joel McHale (Community) and marks the network’s first wholly-owned live-action comedy.
In addition to Joel McHale as Frank, the season one cast includes Michael Rowland as Fred “Shred” Taylor, Vella Lovel as Emily Price, Ravi Patel as Amit Patel, and Grace Palmer as Victoria Sands. Alvina August plays Dr. Summers, Kelli Ogmundson is Dolores Stubb, and Gerry Dee is Templeton Dudge. McHale serves as an executive producer along with Bob Fisher (Wedding Crashers), Rob Greenberg (Frasier), Dan Sterling (King of the Hill), and Tad Quill (Scrubs).
“Weasels and Ostriches” Plot: Shred encounters a wild weasel in an attic. Frank slips his Slim Jim in Shred’s back pocket as they approach a dozen ostriches.
The series follows a group of local Animal Control workers whose lives are complicated by the fact that animals are simple, but humans are not. McHale stars as Frank, an opinionated, eccentric Animal Control officer who may not have gone to college but is still the most well-read person in the room. A former cop, Frank tried to expose corruption in his department, but his efforts got him fired, which may explain why he’s so cynical and curmudgeonly. He has an almost superhuman ability to understand animals. Humans…not so much.
Frank is assigned a new partner, Fred “Shred” Taylor, an optimistic rookie Animal Control officer. They both report in to their sweet-natured and endearingly awkward boss Emily Price. Amit Patel and Victoria Sands are also partners in the Animal Control office – though they could not be more opposite. Rounding out the precinct is veterinarian Dr. Summers, receptionist Dolores Stubb, and Templeton Dudge an Animal Control officer from a neighboring precinct with a real chip on his shoulder.
FX has finally set a premiere date for its Great Expectations limited series from writer/executive producer Steven Knight (See, Peaky Blinders, Taboo). The six-part adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classic novel will premiere on Sunday, March 26, 2023 on Hulu with the release of the first two episodes.
The cast was announced in February 2022 and the first two official photos arrived in July 2022. FX chose to announce the premiere date on Charles Dickens’s birthday. (Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Landport, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.)
The premiere date announcement was accompanied by the series’ poster, along with a description of what the artwork represents:
“The newly released key art, true to FX and Steven Knight’s style, features one of literature’s most iconic characters, Miss Havisham ensnaring her pawns, Pip and Estella, in the headdress she still wears from her wedding that never was. Entangled in Miss Havisham’s bitter web are memorable elements from the tale including the decaying Satis House, clocks stopped at 20 minutes to nine, as well as the prison ship and manacles that led Magwitch to Pip, thus beginning the story of Dickens’s beloved Great Expectations.”
The six-episode series stars Fionn Whitehead as Pip and Olivia Colman as Miss Havisham. The cast also includes Shalom Brune-Franklin, Ashley Thomas, Johnny Harris, Hayley Squires, Owen McDonnell, Trystan Gravelle, Laurie Ogden, Rudi Dharmalingam, Tom Sweet, Chloe Lea, and Matt Berry. Tom Hardy, Ridley Scott, Dean Baker, David W. Zucker, and Kate Crowe serve as producers, and Brady Hood and Samira Radsi direct.
The limited series is produced by FX Productions in association with the BBC, Scott Free, and Hardy Son & Baker.
Olivia Colman as “Miss Havisham” and Fionn Whitehead as “Pip” in ‘Great Expectations’ (Photo Credit: Miya Mizuno/FX)
The Plot:
Great Expectations is the coming-of-age story of Pip, an orphan who yearns for a greater lot in life until a twist of fate and the evil machinations of the mysterious and eccentric Miss Havisham shows him a dark world of possibilities. Under the great expectations placed upon him, Pip will have to work out the true cost of this new world and whether it will truly make him the man he wishes to be.
A damning critique of the class system, Dickens’ novel was published in 1861 after first releasing it in a series of weekly chapters beginning in December 1860.
Vincent Cassel (Westworld) and Eva Green (Penny Dreadful) lead the cast of Apple TV+’s new thriller Liaison, premiering on February 24, 2023. Liaison, which marks the streaming service’s first French and English language original series, finds the U.K.’s infrastructure under attack by cyber terrorists.
The cast of the six-episode season also includes Peter Mullan (Ozark), Cesar Award winner Gérard Lanvin (Call My Agent!), Daniel Francis (Small Axe), and Stanislas Merhar (The Black Book). Iréne Jacob (La double vie de Veronique), Laëtitia Eido (Fauda), Eriq Ebouaney (Rogue City), Bukky Bakray (Rocks), and Emmy Award winner Thierry Frémont (Murder In Mind) also star.
The series was created by Virginie Brac (Engrenages) and directed by Emmy Award-winner Stephen Hopkins (24). Brac writes, and Vincent Cassel, Gub Neal (The Fall), Jean-Benoît Gillig (L’Emprise), Sarada McDermott (Bridgerton), Stephen Hopkins, Justin Thomson, and Edward Barlow executive produce.
In support of the series’ February 24th premiere, Apple TV+ released a lengthy trailer and the following synopsis:
“Liaison is a high-stakes, contemporary thriller exploring how the mistakes of our past have the potential to destroy our future, combining action with an unpredictable, multi-layered plot where espionage and political intrigue play out against a story of passionate and enduring love.”
Vincent Cassel and Eva Green in ‘Liaison,’ premiering February 24, 2023 on Apple TV+
Paramount+’s Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies trailer teases it was their bad girl reputations that brought the first generation of Pink Ladies together. Outcasts at Rydell, the first four Pink Ladies found their power by banding together to form an all-girl gang that’s mission is to rule the school.
The founding four Pink Ladies are Tricia Fukuhara as Nancy Nakagawa, Marisa Davila as Jane Facciano, Cheyenne Wells as Olivia Valdovinos, and Ari Notartomaso as Cynthia Zdunowski. The season one cast also includes Shanel Bailey as Hazel, Madison Thompson as Susan, Johnathan Nieves as Richie, Jason Schmidt as Buddy, Maxwell Whittington-Cooper as Wally, and Jackie Hoffman as Asst. Principal McGee.
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies will premiere on April 6, 2023. New episodes of the 10-episode season will follow on subsequent Thursdays.
Annabel Oakes (Atypical, Minx) writes, directs, executive produces, and serves as showrunner. Alethea Jones (Made for Love) directed three episodes, including the pilot, and also serves as an executive producer along with Adam Fishbach, Temple Hill’s Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey, and PICTURESTART’s Erik Feig and Samie Kim Falvey.
Jamal Sims handled the choreography and directs, with music by Grammy nominee Justin Tranter.
Tricia Fukuhara, Marisa Davila, Cheyenne Wells, and Ari Notartomaso in ‘Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies’ (Photo Credit: Eduardo Araquel/Paramount+)
The Plot: The musical series takes place four years before the original Grease. In 1954, before rock ‘n’ roll ruled, before the T-Birds were the coolest in the school, four fed-up outcasts dare to have fun on their own terms, sparking a moral panic that will change Rydell High forever.
The team needs the help of a former member on NCIS: Hawaii season two episode 14, “Silent Invasion.” Directed by Eric Hays from a script by Mike Diaz, episode 14 will air on Monday, February 13, 2023 at 10pm ET/PT.
Season two stars Vanessa Lachey as Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant, Alex Tarrant as Kai Holman, Noah Mills as Jesse Boone, and Yasmine Al-Bustami as Lucy Tara. Jason Antoon plays Ernie Malik, Tori Anderson is Kate Whistler, and Kian Talan stars as Alex Tennant.
“Silent Invasion” Plot: When the murder of a captain and his wife echoes a previous case, the NCIS team brings in a former team member to help determine if they are dealing with a copycat killer.
NCIS: Hawai’i Season 2 Description, Courtesy of CBS:
The world’s most successful television series continues on the seductive shores of the Aloha State with the #1 new drama, NCIS: Hawai’i, where the first female Special Agent in Charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor, Jane Tennant, has thrived and risen through the ranks by equal parts confidence and strategy in a system that has pushed back on her every step of the way. Together with her unwavering team of specialists, they balance duty to family and country while investigating high-stakes crimes involving military personnel, national security and the mysteries of the sun-drenched island paradise itself.
