Disney+’s upcoming live-action Pinocchio has just released a new trailer, poster, and photos ahead of the film’s September 8, 2022 (“Disney+ Day”) premiere. The new two-minute trailer shows the moment when the wooden toy surprises his dad, Geppetto, by walking, talking, and acting like a real boy. The second trailer also shows the start of Pinocchio’s adventures as he leaves the safety of Geppetto’s toy shop, heads to school, and winds up with Stromboli’s puppet show.
Oscar winner Robert Zemeckis directs a cast that includes Oscar winner Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Philadelphia) as the woodcarver Geppetto. Benjamin Evan Ainsworth (The Haunting of Bly Manor) voices the title character; Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Super Pumped) voices Jiminy Cricket, who serves as Pinocchio’s guide as well as his “conscience”; two-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo (Harriet) is the Blue Fairy; and Keegan-Michael Key (Schmigadoon!) is Honest John.
Oscar nominee Lorraine Bracco (Goodfellas) is Sofia the Seagull, Kyanne Lamaya is Fabiana, Jaquita Ta’Le as her marionette Sabina, Giuseppe Battiston (Trust) is Señor Stromboli, and Lewin Lloyd (His Dark Materials) is Lampwick.
In addition to starring as the Blue Fairy, Cynthia Erivo will perform the classic song “When You Wish Upon a Star.” Academy Award nominees Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard are composing new original songs specifically for the 2022 live-action film.
Director Robert Zemeckis co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Weitz. Zemeckis, Chris Weitz, Derek Hogue, and Andrew Miano produce, with Jack Rapke, Jacqueline Levine, Jeremy Johns, and Paul Weitz executive producing.
There’s a lot to love about FX’s Welcome to Wrexham docuseries, and non-football fans will certainly tune in just to see what Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were thinking when they bought the struggling Red Dragons. Reynolds and McElhenney are indeed entertaining, but what’s guaranteed to grab viewers is the sheer joy of victory mixed with the utter agony of defeat experienced by the fine citizens of Wrexham as they cheer on their struggling hometown football team.
Anyone who’s ever rooted for a losing team knows what it feels like to continue to hang onto hope that one day things will turn around. (As a lifelong Chargers fan, I know this feeling deep in my soul.) One day a miracle will occur, and all those losing seasons will become distant memories. In 2020, Wrexham fans were asked to consider if Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool) and Rob McElhenney’s (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) interest in purchasing the third oldest football team in the world was the miracle they’d been waiting for.
The small blue-collar town of Wrexham (located in North Wales) is populated by diehard fans who live and die with their football team. The town’s been through a lot, and it’s obvious with the proliferation of empty storefronts that Wrexham could use an infusion of cash. But when it was announced Ryan and Rob wanted to buy the Red Dragons, of course, some Wrexham fans were skeptical of their motivations. Was this a publicity stunt? Would they desert the team after the spotlight faded away or the newness of the adventure wore off? These are justifiable concerns that Ryan and Rob – and, in turn – the docuseries address.
Obviously, given that this is based on real events, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney managed to assure Wrexham fans that they were in it for the long run. The duo, who only knew each other through social media and hadn’t met in person before deciding to take on owning a football team, understood the passion of Wrexham fans and committed to taking this underdog team from the bottom of the barrel back to being competitive with upper-tier teams. Why? Maybe the answer’s as simple as everyone loves a good underdog story.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ (Photo Credit: Patrick McElhenney/FX)
FX’s docuseries explores the inner workings of the Red Dragons and the impact Reynolds and McElhenney’s ownership has had not just on the team but the entire town. It’s a Cinderella story told with love and laughter. It’s also a very effective publicity tool for the Wrexham Red Dragons. But, you’d have to be very cynical to believe this is all just a ploy to help Reynolds and McElhenney recoup their monetary investment in the club.
Beginning with the first episode, Welcome to Wrexham builds up goodwill toward the town and its club. Reynolds and McElhenney are refreshingly candid about this strange trip they’re on as team owners. And the episodes (five of which were made available to critics) spotlight a colorful collection of Wrexham fans who don’t shy away from sharing their opinions of the team and its owners.
There’s something incredibly compelling about this weird story of the Red Dragons. McElhenney began this journey by deciding he needed someone with movie star money as a partner. He landed on the perfect partner in Reynolds, and the two do not fail to entertain.
Universal Pictures’ Halloween Ends, the final battle between Michael Myers and Laurie Strode, will arrive in theaters and on Peacock on October 14, 2022. The announcement of the simultaneous release on streaming and in theaters was made by Jamie Lee Curtis in a two-minute video released on social media.
Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode has been terrorized by Michael Myers for four decades, and Curtis says she’s very proud of the upcoming final chapter to their lengthy story. Curtis believes Halloween Ends brings the saga to “a fitting conclusion.” In the video, she also explains the reasoning behind the decision to release Halloween Ends on Peacock and theatrically.
“Last year when we put out Halloween Kills, we were in the thick of the Covid crisis so we made that movie available in theaters and in homes at the same time. We discovered that there are people who want to go to the theater and scream their guts out – and other people who want to stay at home and scream their guts out. But what we knew was that people watched both at the box office and from streaming,” says Curtis.
The Scream Queen’s explanation gets briefly interrupted by Michael Myers lurking behind a nearby tree. Then she adds: “This year, we year we want to make sure that as many people as possible can see Halloween Ends before Halloween. So, we decided to give that same gift to the fans…again!”
Curtis says it’s been an honor to play Laurie Strode and no matter how you decide to watch the final chapter, she hopes “you’ll get people together and scream and cheer and hold your breath to the end because we created this for you.”
Curtis wraps up the announcement by saying, “I thank you for your years of support and how much you care about this story and me – your final girl.”
Joining Jamie Lee Curtis in the final chapter of the saga are Andi Matichak as Allyson, Rohan Campbell as Corey Cunningham, Will Patton as Officer Frank Hawkins, Kyle Richards as Lindsey Wallace, and James Jude Courtney as The Shape. David Gordon Green directs from a screenplay he co-wrote with Paul Brad Logan, Chris Bernier, and Danny McBride.
Universal Pictures’ official synopsis:
This is Laurie Strode’s last stand.
After 45 years, the most acclaimed, revered horror franchise in film history reaches its epic, terrifying conclusion as Laurie Strode faces off for the last time against the embodiment of evil, Michael Myers, in a final confrontation unlike any captured on-screen before. Only one of them will survive.
Four years after the events of last year’s Halloween Kills, Laurie is living with her granddaughter Allyson (Matichak) and is finishing writing her memoir. Michael Myers hasn’t been seen since. Laurie, after allowing the specter of Michael to determine and drive her reality for decades, has decided to liberate herself from fear and rage and embrace life. But when a young man, Corey Cunningham (Campbell), is accused of killing a boy he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that will force Laurie to finally confront the evil she can’t control, once and for all.
There’s nothing unusual about Hollywood recycling old sitcoms – and even dramas – for new audiences. But Hulu’s new Reboot comedy series takes it a step further, creating a series about the behind-the-scenes shenanigans surrounding the reunion of a fictional sitcom cast for a reboot.
Steve Levitan (Modern Family, Just Shoot Me) created the series and serves as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. “After working thirty years in TV comedy, this is both my love letter to sitcoms and, if I’m being honest, much-needed therapy,” said Levitan, describing his new comedy.
Keegan-Michael Key, Johnny Knoxville, Judy Greer, Paul Reiser, Rachel Bloom, Calum Worthy and Krista Marie Yu in ‘Reboot’ (Courtesy of Hulu)
Hulu released the following details on season one which is set to premiere on September 20, 2022 with the release of the first three episodes:
The Plot: Hulu reboots an early 2000’s family sitcom, forcing its dysfunctional cast back together. Now they must deal with their unresolved issues in today’s fast-changing world.
The Cast:
Keegan-Michael Key plays Reed Sterling, a fussy actor on the fictitious family multi-cam sitcom, Step Right Up, who graduated from the Yale school of drama and resents the show for ruining his career.
Johnny Knoxville is Clay Barber, a dark and filthy standup comedian whose only real acting job was on the same bright and sunny sitcom.
Judy Greer is Bree Marie Larson, a small-town pageant girl who always dreamed of being an actress and a princess and both somehow came true.
Rachel Bloom is sitcom writer with a “fresh take,” Hannah.
Calum Worthy is Zack, the hyphenate movie star/hip-hop artist.
Krista Marie Yu as a tech exec turned television creative exec, Elaine.
Jeff Garlin and Larry David in ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ season 11 (Photo Credit: HBO)
Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm will be hanging around for at least a 12th season. HBO officially renewed the award-winning comedy series for season 12.
Commenting on the renewal, series creator and star Larry David said, “Playing the role of Larry David has been the greatest honor of my life. In researching this multi-faceted, multi-talented man, I discovered that there’s more to him than I ever could have imagined: He speaks six languages, brines his own pickles, and spearheads a national movement to install a bidet in every home. I’ve also been told from numerous sources that he is the most generous of lovers. I am so excited to once again transform into this force of nature. I only pray that I can do him justice.”
In addition to Larry David, the cast includes Jeff Garlin, Susie Essman, J.B. Smoove, Cheryl Hines, Richard Lewis, Vince Vaughn, and Ted Danson. Larry David, Jeff Garlin, and Jeff Schaffer executive produce, with Laura Streicher and Jennifer Corey co-executive producing.
“Larry outdoes himself season after season and always manages to come back when the audience needs him most. We’re thrilled for him, Jeff Schaffer, and our phenomenal cast to continue making us laugh and cringe in equal measure,” stated Amy Gravitt, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming.
The critically acclaimed comedy has won Emmy, AFI, Directors Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, and Writers Guild of America awards.
Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s synopsis: “Originally debuting on HBO in 2001 and with 110 completed episodes to date, Curb Your Enthusiasm stars Seinfeld co-creator David as an over-the-top version of himself in an unsparing but tongue-in-cheek depiction of his fictionalized life.
The comedy series continues to prove how seemingly trivial details of one’s day-to-day life can precipitate a catastrophic chain of events. To keep the narrative spontaneous, the series is shot without a script and cast members are given scene outlines and improvise lines as they go.”
Prime Video’s final trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power treats viewers to new action scenes as well as brief glimpses of characters who haven’t previously appeared in teasers. The nearly three-minute trailer begins with Galadriel (Cate Blanchett in the films, Morfydd Clark in the series) declaring, “My brother gave his life hunting the enemy. His task is now mine.”
Amid the action, there are a lot of shots of characters slowly turning toward the camera.
Among the characters showcased in the final trailer are Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), Elrond (Robert Aramayo), High King Gil-galad (Benjamin Walker), Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards), Elanor “Nori” Brandyfoot (Markella Kavenagh), and Largo Brandyfoot (Dylan Smith).
The trailer also features The Stranger (Daniel Weyman), Isildur (Maxim Baldry), Eärien (Ema Horvath), Elendil (Lloyd Owen), Pharazôn (Trystan Gravelle), Queen Regent Míriel (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), King Durin III (Peter Mullan), Prince Durin IV (Owain Arthur), Princess Disa (Sophia Nomvete), Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), Bronwyn (Nazanin Boniadi), and Arondir (Ismael Cruz Córdova).
J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay created the series and serve as showrunners and executive producers. Lindsey Weber, Callum Greene, J.A. Bayona, Belén Atienza, Justin Doble, Jason Cahill, Gennifer Hutchison, Bruce Richmond, and Sharon Tal Yguado also executive produce. J.A. Bayona, Charlotte Brändström, and Wayne Che Yip direct.
Prime Video’s set a September 2, 2022 premiere of the first two episodes. New season one episodes will follow on subsequent Fridays.
Morfydd Clark (Galadriel) and Charlie Vickers (Halbrand) in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ (Photo Courtesy of Prime Video)
The official synopsis:
Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and one of the greatest villains that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness.
Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared reemergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the farthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.
Clyde meets with Jones as The CW’s Roswell, New Mexico season four episode 11 opens with a flashback to their time on Oasis. Jones offers Clyde a position in his inner circle, convincing Clyde that he’ll share his enormous powers if he accepts.
Clyde agrees and is branded with the alien symbol. Jones welcomes him to the family.
Flash-forward to the present-day and Rosa (Amber Midthunder) confronts Liz (Jeanine Mason) about her erratic behavior and warns her sister that her addiction to the alien mist is going to end badly. Rosa notes Liz has moved out of Max’s place and is basically destroying her life, but Liz doesn’t care.
Rosa’s warnings were just the beginning of Liz’s no-good, very bad day as Max (Nathan Dean), Isobel (Lily Cowles), and Kyle (Michael Trevino) arrive at the café for an intervention. They’re all worried about her but Liz claims she just needs a little more time. Kyle suggests she can detox at Blue Sky, and Liz insults his skills at helping aliens. (That was uncalled for, Liz!)
Liz attempts to explain what’s she currently working on – replicating the blue flame in a lab – and Max knows she’s doing this because he got rid of his powers. He takes her shaking hand and says he can’t lose her. He’ll get his abilities back if that will save her.
Unfortunately, Liz has used all the mist. Fortunately, her friends – and sister – won’t give up and will find a solution.
Liz reluctantly agrees to stick with Rosa, and they head upstairs. Liz seems preoccupied and Rosa figures out Liz is hiding something…and she is. It’s a bottle of the alien mist that she’s unwilling to give up. Liz orders her sister to hand it over but Rosa refuses.
While they’re fighting, Isobel and Kyle share a private moment in the café. They’re super flirty and the sparks are flying, but then Kyle suggests they go back to being just drinking buddies. He doesn’t like the weirdness between them and hopes to get past it.
The “drinking buddies” suggestion takes Isobel by surprise, but she covers her shock well and agrees. Damn it!
Max returns a short while later and finds Rosa coming to after Liz knocked her out with a lamp. Or at least that’s what she thinks happened.
Kyle examines Rosa at Blue Sky, and she seems okay but complains her brain still feels scrambled. A scan shows no signs of a concussion, and they realize they need to look for a possible alien cause.
It turns out Liz didn’t hit her sister. Liz was also knocked out and comes to tied to a chair, courtesy of Clyde. They’re in a mineshaft that Jones originally used all those years ago. Clyde swears that “by Liz Ortecho’s hands, the alighting will begin.”
Clyde goes off about Jones’s plans and the portal Theo built and then broke. And in a new twist, he reveals anyone who has the alien brand can’t use the portal to return home. The brand was created with a special formula that Liz needs to figure out how to counteract. Only Liz and her brilliant mind can come up with a solution.
Clyde reveals the only portal he needs is in Roswell and all that’s required to go home is to plug in the star map, once his brand’s deactivated. Clyde turns over Theo’s Bible and warns Liz to figure it out or her student, Vanessa, will die. (He mind-controlled Vanessa to kidnap Liz.)
Clyde forces Liz to inhale more mist.
Isobel and Kyle are the absolute worst at pretending not to be attracted to each other. They discuss possible causes of Rosa’s memory loss while complimenting each other’s skills. Rosa looks on and finally breaks up the mutual admiration society meeting to ask if Isobel can pop into her mind and figure out what happened.
Kyle takes Isobel’s hand, asking if he can come too. (These two had better be together by the season/series finale or else.)
The mindscape shows Vanessa entering the room, knocking out Liz, and then Clyde placing his hand on Rosa’s head and wiping the memory.
Max goes through Liz’s lab looking for more mist. He discovers his pods are in the lab hooked up to something and yanks out the tube. Shivani appears and is indignant, explaining they relocated his pods for further research. She assures him her security’s the best money can buy…and then it dawns on her he shouldn’t have been able to enter the lab.
Shivani claims she has no idea where Liz is, and Max warns the mist is destroying her and Liz. They trade insults and threats of calling the FBI, and Max tries to end the argument by saying all he wants is one canister of mist.
Things get personal when Shivani says there’s no future for Max Evans and Liz Ortecho. Members of her security team arrive, putting an end to whatever Max had planned next.
Meanwhile, in the upside-down world Michael (Michael Vlamis) works on getting the Jeep working so that he, Bonnie (Zoe Cipres), and Dallas (Quentin Plair) can continue their search for Alex. The trio decides the best option is to split up.
Bonnie and Dallas are searching on foot for Alex when thunder roars in the distance. Bonnie thinks that maybe Alex sought shelter, leading them to search a cargo container. Alex isn’t inside but Dallas spots another piece of alien glass and hopes his dad left another message.
They’re distracted and the door slams shut behind them! Bonnie can’t use her powers to open the door because the container’s coated in lead. She pounds on the door and screams out for Michael while Dallas attempts to remain calm, cool, and collected. He does admit to being worried that his dad’s plan for him is getting his friends hurt.
Bonnie insists Alex isn’t dead; she still blames herself for putting him in danger in the first place. Dallas assures her the PodSquad is her family now and thinks she dodged a bullet by not being indoctrinated into Jones’s family. (She doesn’t have the brand.)
They’re pounding on the door when outside a figure in a hooded coat, gas mask, and rifle approaches the door. Michael arrives before the figure reaches the container and slams him to the ground. He yanks off the mask and it’s Alex! Finally! Welcome back, Tyler Blackburn – we’ve missed you.
Alex’s first words are, “At least kiss me before you bust my lip.” Michael breaks out in a huge smile.
Minutes later, Dallas and Bonnie are freed from the container, and Michael and Alex kiss. Alex can’t believe Michael found him and Dallas explains his dad created this space – calling it an inner-dimensional mouse trap.
Alex set up the container as a trap, complete with alien glass to use as alien bait. Michael’s impressed and Alex confesses he almost gave up but he remembered Michael told him no matter how far apart, they’d always find their way back to each other.
Michael credits Maria with figuring things out and wonders how he managed to reach out to her. Alex calls Maria the conduit and describes her as shining a spotlight on the world he wanted to get back to. (Speaking of Maria, Heather Hemmens is directing this episode.)
The thunder roars again and Alex says it’s a new development.
Alex saw weird trees about 10 miles away, and Dallas is sure that’s where they’ll find alien fruit to use for fuel. Bonnie volunteers to go with Dallas, suggesting Alex and Michael need some alone time to catch up.
Michael and Alex don’t waste any time catching up seated next to each other and sharing a blanket. Alex confesses he spent the time staring at the blank drive-in screen imagining this was just a movie about star-crossed lovers. He dreamed about getting home to Michael and pictured Michael doing the same.
Michael confesses he was dreaming of home – but not Earth. Clyde told him about a way to get back to Oasis and Michael admits he was tempted to go there. He’s angry at himself for letting that distract him from this life with Alex, but Alex completely understands. Michael’s always wanted to go back to his planet.
Alex doesn’t care where they are, even on opposite sides of the universe. As long as they’re looking at the same stars, he will never look away. They kiss, again, and Michael asks how the imaginary movie ends. Alex describes different scenarios but then says it could end with a twist.
“Michael Guerin, will you marry me?” he asks. Alex believes they’ve spent too much time apart and can’t wait any longer. Michael pauses before he answers and Alex says, “So?”
Michael finally replies smiling, “I can’t wait to see Sanders in a tux. Yes! Yes! I am so in love with you it’s embarrassing.”
Although they have time for a real reunion, Alex pulls away. He’s been feeling nauseous since he got there and thinks this dimension has radiation. That’s why he was wearing a gas mask. Dallas, Bonnie, and Michael aren’t feeling it so it must only affect humans.
The gas mask has allowed him to breathe but the radiation is already showing on his body. Alex thinks he’s dying! (Letting them be happy for 5 minutes is just too much to ask, isn’t it?)
Meanwhile, a newly charged-up Liz works on the formula while checking out the nearby area. She spots an ax and Clyde stops her, but Liz gets out of the situation by saying she needs rust for the formula. Clyde reminds her Vanessa’s life hangs in the balance and Liz announces it’ll take her 33 minutes to finish – if he stops bothering her.
She combines the remaining mist with the rust and continues to work while insulting his continued loyalty to Jones who, as she points out, is dead.
Isobel and Max arrive outside the mineshaft, certain that’s where Clyde took Liz. Max has to admit he didn’t retrieve the mist because of Shivani’s security team so it’ll be up to Isobel to fight Clyde.
Liz finishes the serum and Clyde prepares to inject himself. But first, he tries it out on alien flowers preserved under a glass dome. The flowers are destroyed and he realizes Liz tricked him.
While he was working on the flowers, Liz was busy whipping up a different solution. A pan explodes but Clyde’s not injured. Fortunately, Liz knew that’s what would happen and used it as a distraction to grab the ax.
Clyde advances toward her and she hits the wall with the ax, causing a cave-in that traps Clyde. She grabs the syringe and injects Clyde while revealing she was able to mimic Bonnie’s powers and the injection will render him powerless.
She stumbles out of the mine and into Max’s arms. He holds her and says, “I’m never going to leave your side,” right before she passes out.
She wakes up in a hospital bed at Blue Sky and apologizes for not only using the mist but also pushing everyone away. She doesn’t want that to happen again and doesn’t want to lose Max. Max promises to be the man he needs her to be.
Kyle prepares a drip to ease Liz’s withdrawal, and Rosa has decided to stay in town until her sister’s healed. She can put off her return to life in New York for a while to help Liz.
Rosa advises Kyle to figure out what’s going on with a certain green-eyed alien warrior goddess. Kyle says they’re just friends, but Rosa believes that’s not how Isobel feels about their relationship. Kyle asks what he should do, and Rosa delivers the best advice possible: “Why don’t you try talking less and listening more?”
Isobel’s also getting a little relationship advice from her brother. Isobel asks why Kyle closing the door makes her want to kick it open. Max wonders what’s stopping her, and she confesses she’s played enough with Kyle’s emotions. He made it clear where he stands now, and she missed her moment.
Max disagrees. “Epic love stories aren’t made up of a single moment,” he says. It’s not too late for any of them.
Back to Alex and Michael… Alex doesn’t want to spend his last days wallowing and really wants to marry Michael. Dallas and Bonnie return with the bad news the trees were burned down. They appear to be stuck there.
Alex begs Michael to agree to let Dallas marry them right now.
The episode ends with Clyde making it to Shivani’s lab and promising to bring her daughter back if she allows him to use the mist to regain his powers.
Milly Alcock and Paddy Considine in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 1 episode 1 (Photo by Ollie Upton / HBO)
HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon, set a new record with its Sunday, August 21, 2022 series premiere. Episode one of the 10-episode first season had 9.986 million viewers tuning in, making it the largest audience for any new original HBO series.
Additionally, HBO reports House of the Dragon episode one was also the biggest series launch on HBO Max. Plus, the series trended at the top spot on Twitter for 14 consecutive hours.
The series is based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood novel, with Martin co-creating and serving as an executive producer. Co-creator Ryan Condal writes, executive produces and is a co-showrunner with director and executive producer Miguel Sapochnik. Sara Hess, Jocelyn Diaz, Vince Gerardis, and Ron Schmidt also executive produce season one.
“It was wonderful to see millions of Game of Thrones fans return with us to Westeros last night. House of the Dragon features an incredibly talented cast and crew who poured their heart and soul into the production, and we’re ecstatic with viewers’ positive response,” stated Casey Bloys, Chief Content Officer, HBO & HBO Max. “We look forward to sharing with audiences what else George, Ryan, and Miguel have in store for them this season.”
The prequel is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones. Episode one introduced viewers to King Viserys I and the rest of the Targaryens who’ll play key roles throughout season one.
New episodes air on Sundays at 9pm ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max.
Paddy Considine, Sian Brooke, Michael Carter, Steve Toussaint, and Eve Best in ‘House of the Dragon’ episode 1 (Photo by Ollie Upton / HBO)
House of the Dragon Cast and Characters – Courtesy of HBO
Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen, chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen, at the Great Council at Harrenhal. A warm, kind, and decent man, Viserys only wishes to carry forward his grandfather’s legacy. But good men do not necessarily make for great kings.
Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen, younger brother to King Viserys and heir to the throne. A peerless warrior and a dragonrider, Daemon possesses the true blood of the dragon. But it is said that whenever a Targaryen is born, the gods toss a coin in the air…
Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, the daughter of Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, and the most comely woman in the Seven Kingdoms. She was raised in the Red Keep, close to the king and his innermost circle; she possesses both a courtly grace and a keen political acumen.
Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the king’s first-born child, she is of pure Valyrian blood, and she is a dragonrider. Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything… but she was not born a man.
Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, “The Sea Snake.” Lord of House Velaryon, a Valyrian bloodline as old as House Targaryen. As “The Sea Snake,” the most famed nautical adventurer in the history of Westeros, Lord Corlys built his house into a powerful seat that is even richer than the Lannisters and that claims the largest navy in the world.
Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, a dragonrider and wife to Lord Corlys Velaryon, “The Queen Who Never Was” was passed over as heir to the throne at the Great Council because the realm favored her cousin, Viserys, simply for being male.
Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole, of Dornish descent, the common-born son of the steward to the Lord of Blackhaven. Cole has no claim to land or titles; all he has to his name is his honor and his preternatural skill with a sword.
Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, who came to Westeros with nothing, sold more times than she can recall. She could have wilted… but instead she rose to become the most trusted — and most unlikely — ally of Prince Daemon Targaryen, the heir to the throne.
Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower. The Hand of the King, Ser Otto loyally and faithfully serves both his king and his realm. As the Hand sees it, the greatest threat to the realm is the king’s brother, Daemon, and his position as heir to the throne.
ADDITIONAL CAST (in alphabetical order):
Milly Alcock as Young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. She’s the king’s first-born child, of pure Valyrian blood, and she is a dragonrider. Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything… but she was not born a man.
Bethany Antonia as Baela Targaryen, eldest daughter of Laena Velaryon and rider of the young dragon Moondancer.
Sian Brooke as Aemma Targaryen, the queen consort and wife of King Viserys Targaryen.
Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena Targaryen, second daughter of Lady Laena and sister to Baela.
Emily Carey as Young Alicent Hightower, the daughter of Otto Hightower, the Hand of the King, and the most comely woman in the Seven Kingdoms. Alicent was raised in the Red Keep, close to the king and his innermost circle; she possesses both a courtly grace and a keen political acumen.
Harry Collett as Jacaerys Velaryon, eldest son of Rhaenyra Targaryen.
Ryan Corr as Ser Harwin ‘Breakbones’ Strong. ‘Breakbones’, Harwin is said to be the strongest man in the Seven Kingdoms. Ser Harwin is the eldest son to Master of Laws Lyonel Strong and heir to Harrenhal.
Anthony Flanagan as Ser Steffon Darklyn, member of the Kingsguard.
Tom Glynn-Carney as Aegon Targaryen, first-born son of King Viserys.
Jefferson Hall as Tyland Lannister, a crafty and calculating politician, twin to Lord Jason Lannister.
Jefferson Hall as Lord Jason Lannister, the Lord of Casterly Rock and twin to Ser Tyland Lannister.
David Horovitch as Grand Maester Mellos, a voice of reason and trusted advisor to King Viserys.
Wil Johnson as Ser Vaemond Velaryon, younger brother to Coryls Velaryon and commander in the Velaryon navy.
John Macmillan as Ser Laenor Velaryon, son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen.
Graham McTavish as Ser Harrold Westerling, who has served in the Kingsguard since the days of King Jaehaerys; he is a paragon of chivalry and honor.
Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen, second-born son of Viserys, nephew to Daemon, and half-brother to Rhaenyra.
Theo Nate as Ser Laenor Velaryon, son of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen.
Matthew Needham as Larys Strong, younger son of Master of Laws Lyonel Strong, brought to court by his father.
Bill Paterson as Lord Lyman Beesbury, Lord of Honeyholt and Master of Coin on King Viserys’s small council.
Phia Saban as Helaena Targaryen, second-born daughter of Viserys, sister to Aegon and Aemond, half-sister to Rhaenyra.
Gavin Spokes as Lord Lyonel Strong, Master of Laws to King Viserys and Lord of Harrenhal.
Savannah Steyn as Lady Laena Velayron, daughter of Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen.
Allison Janney…action hero? As unlikely as that sounds, it appears to be true as confirmed with the release of Netflix’s official trailer for Lou. The action thriller finds Oscar winner Allison Janney (I, Tonya) trying to help a desperate mother, played by Emmy nominee Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country), find her kidnapped daughter.
The thriller’s cast also includes Logan Marshall-Green, Ridley Asha Bateman, and Matt Craven. Anna Foerster (Underworld: Blood Wars) directed from a screenplay by Maggie Cohn and Jack Stanley.
Bad Robot’s J.J. Abrams, Hannah Minghella, and Jon Cohen produced, with Janney, Smollett, Cory Bennett Lewis, Lindsey Weber, Brendan Ferguson, and Braden Aftergood executive producing.
The official trailer arrived along with a new poster and three photos from the action film which is set for release on September 23, 2022.
Netflix released the following synopsis of Lou:
Thinking she’d put her dangerous past behind her, Lou (Janney) finds her quiet life interrupted when a desperate mother (Smollett) begs her to save her kidnapped daughter. As a massive storm rages, the two women risk their lives on a rescue mission that will test their limits and expose dark and shocking secrets from their pasts.
Jillian Bell as Gina and Parker Posey as Blair in ‘Tales of the Walking Dead’ season 1 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Curtis Bonds Baker/AMC)
Episode two of AMC’s episodic anthology series Tales of the Walking Dead tells the story of Blair and Gina, two insurance company employees caught in a Groundhog Day cycle at the start of the zombie apocalypse.
Circle of Trust insurance company supervisor Blair (Parker Posey) is tapping away on receptionist Gina’s (Jillian Bell) desk, apologizing for sounding morbid but happy whatever’s happening is good for their business. She thinks when people are scared, they panic which in turn means accidents go up.
Her team kisses up to Blair and Gina pretends to shoot herself in the head. As Blair turns her attention to Gina and the call volume, Gina tries to hide a list of personality disorders she thinks Blair possesses.
In a worried tone, Joel (Kevin L. Johnson) brings up the fact that he heard people are attacking each other just as an enormous number of calls start pouring in. After the briefest of moments of concern, Blair is back to herself and saying everything is fine. The media is blowing it out of proportion. If things were bad, the CDC would say something. (She’s trying to convince her team as well as herself.)
Blair takes a dig at Gina before announcing she’s leaving for a weekend vacation and to forward her calls.
Blair and her fiancé Brian (Matt Medrano) are waiting in a long line at the gas station when the radio announces there’s a catastrophic gas shortage causing long lines at the pump. A gas truck finally pulls up as they’re waiting, and Blair brings up that she thinks her receptionist is stealing the coffee mugs. She says, “On top of that, she’s an incompetent mute who just stares at me all day long like a stalker.”
Brian’s face says it all when he looks at her like, “Get real, lady.”
Brian rips a cigarette Blair’s about to light from her lips just as she sees Gina pull up to the convenience store. Gina goes inside and finds the shelves are completely wiped clean; there’s basically nothing left. When she goes back outside, Blair confronts her. She’s supposed to be at the office and Gina explains she wasn’t leaving; she was getting a snack because their vending machine is broken.
Blair starts in on her about how everyone else is doing their job, and they might have to reevaluate her options. Gina asks if Blair’s firing her and then notes Blair has a lot of stuff packed in their car for just a two-day vacation. Blair claims that she and Brian are having a long weekend, but Gina doesn’t buy it.
Gina brings up Blair’s order for her to stay until six and make sure the back door’s locked, and Blair’s had it. She fires the shocked receptionist.
Gina’s returning to her car when she sees a vehicle slowly driving by with the passenger bleeding from a neck wound.
Gina suddenly pulls a shotgun out of the back of her Prius and starts walking toward the truck driver refueling the station while apologizing. Blair can’t believe Gina has a shotgun, and neither can Homeland Security Agent Leo Rogers (Ameer Baraka). Gina orders the man refueling the pumps to undo the fuel hose.
Leo Rogers introduces himself while walking up with his gun out. Gina returns her attention to the trucker and demands he turns over his keys. Blair offers Gina her job back if she’ll just put the gun down.
The man with the gaping neck wound is now on top of the woman who was driving, and he’s got her out on the ground biting her. Her screams distract everyone and Leo’s able to grab Gina’s shotgun from her. Now it’s his turn to point it at the trucker and demand his keys.
Leo tells his son, Wendell (William J. Simmons), to get in the rig. The trucker fights back and tries to grab the gun and it goes off, shooting the truck’s tank and causing an explosion. Blair screams and for an instant, it looks like everyone has been blown up.
And now we’re back to the Circle of Trust office and Blair’s tapping on Gina’s desk. Blair’s ready to say she doesn’t want to sound morbid when smoke comes out of her mouth, and she grabs her throat. Her co-workers ask if she’s okay, and she thinks maybe it was a coffee ground. She stares at Gina and says, “Maybe someone else should make the coffee in the morning.”
Joel confesses he made the coffee.
It’s confirmed we’re in a Groundhog Day situation because it’s that same morning all over again. When they start to get an influx of calls, just like before, Blair tells Gina to hold all the calls so she can finish her speech. Joel wonders if she’s worried, and Blair tries to claim that she isn’t. The only thing she’s worried about is Gina and questions what they really know about her. Maybe she’s a serial killer or a bank robber.
Blair suggests that maybe Gina has a shotgun under her desk and then drops down and tries to look for one. Gina seems genuinely confused. After a brief stare-off, Gina asks what she should do about the calls. Blair announces she’s off for a long weekend and tells Gina to stay at her desk this time. When Gina questions what she means by “this time,” Blair claims it’s because she’s never at her desk when they need her.
Blair’s back in the car waiting in line for gas and Brian wonders what’s wrong with her because she is quiet – and she’s never quiet. She admits she’s freaking out and asks if he’s ever had bad Deja vu. Brian assures her they’ll be on an island and things will be back to normal when they return.
Just then, the gas truck pulls in and so does Gina. Just like before, Gina pulls her shotgun out and demands the trucker’s keys. Blair tries to tell her she’s going to get everyone killed like last time but then walks away as the agent steps out of his car. This time the trucker hands over the keys.
Blair and the agent talk, and Blair notices he’s been bitten on his wrist. And then the guy in the car bites the woman…again.
This time Gina is about to get away when Blair blocks the road, causing Gina to swerve. She crashes and the truck explodes.
We’re back in the office again for round three but this time Gina’s screaming. When she finishes, she apologizes and then gets up and leaves.
When a co-worker asks what’s up with Gina, Blair replies, “What? Nothing. Everything,” and then runs after her. Blair asks if it’s happening to her too, and Gina admits it is. They bring up the man eating the woman and the DHS agent.
Blair remembers the agent said they’re running out of time and wonders what he meant. She thinks they’re either dead or dreaming. Gina begins to walk away, and Blair demands they talk about it. Gina says all she wanted was a snack and brings up the vending machine being broken. Blair seems pissed that all Gina wants to talk about is wanting a snack, claiming no reasonable person would respond to this situation by discussing a broken vending machine.
Gina starts getting mad too, insists she’s not going to the gas station, and tells Blair to leave her alone.
Blair and Brian are waiting for gas and this time Gina (with her shotgun) storms up to the truck driver and orders him to uncouple the house. Brian thinks this is a movie and Blair gets out of the car and says, “I thought you said you weren’t coming back.”
Gina explains she blew a tire.
Blair jumps out of the car, finds the agent, and tells him his bite looks bad. She asks why he’s so desperate to get out of Atlanta, and he admits things are bad. People are going crazy, and the military has taken over the city. There are only two backroads open and he names them.
Gina pleads with the trucker for his keys as the agent approaches her. The passenger’s biting the driver again when the trucker gets into his truck. Leo attempts to take Gina’s shotgun and it goes off, accidentally killing the truck driver.
Leo’s son is already in the truck and it’s rolling down the road without a driver. Gina chases it down, jumps onto the driver’s door, and grabs the steering wheel from the outside. Blair jumps on the front of the truck and yells at Gina that she’s already blown them up twice.
The truck driver bites Gina, which leads to a crash and yet another explosion.
Once more to the office we go, and Gina’s shaking while checking her neck. Blair knows the trucker was dead and then came back. She repeats that a few times and then adds the rumors were true.
Gina’s done with this nonsense and tells Blair to shut up. She claims this happened because Blair keeps talking. Gina doesn’t want to hear her selfish voice again and tells her boss no one likes her. Gina encourages their co-worker Jasmine (VK) to tell Blair how much she hates her hair.
Gina asks Blair how it’s possible she wears that many neck accessories and then asks if she knows why the back door is always open on Mondays. It’s so that Joel can come in early and then leave early to watch his daughter play soccer. “You would know any of this if you took two seconds to talk to – and not at – a single person here,” says a clearly fed-up Gina.
Before Gina can walk away, Blair yells at her that she’s the selfish one. If she would have just stayed at her desk and done her job, this would have never happened in the first place. With that, Gina leaves.
Back at the gas station, Gina is arrested and Blair smiles, explaining she did this for Wendell (the agent’s son) and for them. Blair suggests Gina can thank her now or send her a letter from jail.
Agent Leo discovers the gun isn’t registered to Gina, and she admits it’s her brother’s. Gina faces Blair and snarls, “You must be neck deep in your own ass if you believe your sh*t,” which leads to a fight. On cue, the guy eats the lady, another fight breaks out, and the truck driver crashes into someone.
Parker Posey as Blair in ‘Tales of the Walking Dead’ season 1 episode 2 (Photo Credit: Curtis Bonds Baker/AMC)
Next, a montage plays of different occasions when they die because of the truck exploding. One of the versions shows them fighting inside the truck and Gina turning into a zombie and biting Blair.
Back at the office again and Gina has snacks she got from the vending machine after smashing the glass. She hands some to Blair as one of their co-workers asks Gina if she’s going to answer the phone. She says, “No, I’m good,” and sits down with Blair.
Gina can’t stop thinking about his eyes being grey…dead or alive, they’re always grey. Blair keeps thinking about Wendell. Blair can’t do this anymore and gets up, and Gina finds her vomiting in the bathroom.
They sit together on the floor, and Blair mentions they never make it to 5pm. Blair knows that Gina keeps trying to leave, but there’s no getting out. The only way she can escape is if she knows which roads are open, which Blair does, thanks to Agent Leo.
Gina just wants to get to her brother and her nieces and to get the hell out of here. She needs to get the tanker to be able to go where she needs to. Blair tells Gina where she’s trying to go is basically suicide; they are shutting down the city. Gina simply says, “They’re my family.”
Gina admits they’ve been through this so many times and knows they aren’t going to be friends. Gina confirms they don’t like each other but that’s okay. Blair has Brian and Gina needs her family. To do that, Blair has to break the cycle by staying in her car. With that, Gina leaves.
This time, Gina manages to get away in the truck with a smile on her face.
Back in the office, Blair’s now sitting at Gina’s desk and Jasmine asks if she’s all right. Blair snaps out of it and tells them to close early. She admits Joel is right; things are much worse than they seem.
After everyone leaves, Blair lights up a cigarette and Brian comes in wondering where she’s been. Blair compliments him on being great, in particular after her father died. He’s justifiably confused when she questions why at the gas station, he never takes more than two steps out of his car to help her. He’s watched her die again and again and she asks why. She tells him they shouldn’t do this; they aren’t right for each other.
Brian can’t believe she’s breaking off their engagement, and Blair suggests he head to the island to stay safe. Blair steps outside and gives up, offering her neck to the zombies.
Back in the office, again, Blair screams and tells everyone to close the office and leave. Blair and Gina talk, and Gina confesses Blair was right. She never made it out of the city. Blair reveals she stayed and got eaten, which it turns out was the worst way to go.
Blair apologizes for being horrible the past two years. Gina thanks her for the apology and tries to claim she didn’t hate her but then admits she did. Blair has always been annoying and bossy.
Blair suggests they try something new.
They make one final trip to the gas station and this time they start off as a team. They tell the agent that the man in the car is a zombie. The agent and his son approach the man eating the woman, and Wendell gets too close. That was definitely not part of Blair and Gina’s plan.
Gina points the shotgun at the trucker, asking for his keys or she’ll blow his head off. Blair confirms Gina’s a cold-blooded killer. She’s witnessed her killing at least five times.
Gina and Blair escape in the truck and plot their path to Gina’s nieces. They have a heartfelt talk and seem to become friends, for whatever that’s worth.
The freeway’s blocked off by police, and they drive around their barricade. (No one wants to blow up a tanker.) They continue on until they come to a bridge and look over to see traffic stopped on the freeway and a lot of people running from an approaching hoard of zombies.
Gina claims they’re not cowards and tosses the gas hose over the bridge. Gas covers the ground as Blair tosses her cigarette over. It goes out without lighting a fire. Gina says, “Are you kidding me?! The one time we needed it to blow…the one time!”
Gina takes Blair’s neck accessory, lights it up, and throws it off the bridge. Finally, the fire erupts. Unfortunately, the truck blows up too and sends them flying backward.
They’ve made it to 5pm! Now disheveled and slightly bloody, Blair asks if Gina thinks they’re dead. Gina doesn’t think so but does think Blair has a personality disorder that she passed on to her. Blair doesn’t understand what Gina’s saying, and Gina admits she doesn’t think any of this is real. They’re sharing a delusion.
After a brief argument, Blair tells her, “Let’s go get your nieces.”
As the two women walk down the freeway, Gina says, “Is it wrong that I sort of felt good when I heard that I ate you.” They continue to walk down the freeway, chatting and laughing, as episode two ends.
