Season nine of ABC’s 9-1-1 is the first season following the tragic death of Bobby Nash, played for eight seasons by Peter Krause. Episode one, “Eat the Rich,” shows the 118 still reeling from the sudden loss of their friend. Season nine premieres on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 8pm ET/PT.
Returning series stars include Angela Bassett as Athena Grant, Jennifer Love Hewitt as Maddie Han, Oliver Stark as Evan “Buck” Buckley, and Kenneth Choi as Howie “Chimney” Han. Aisha Hinds stars as Henrietta “Hen” Wilson, Ryan Guzman plays Eddie Diaz, and Gavin McHugh is Christopher Diaz.
“Eat The Rich” Plot: In honor of Bobby Nash’s sacrifice, the 118 comes together to dedicate the firehouse in his memory. Meanwhile, when a billionaire tech giant is involved in a life-or-death emergency, the team must race to his aid.
Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Tim Minear created and executive produce the series, with Minear serving as showrunner. Additional executive producers include Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, John J. Gray, Brad Buecker, Lyndsey Beaulieu, Ted Griffen, and Robert M. Williams.
Kenneth Choi, Oliver Stark, Ryan Guzman, and Aisha Hinds in ‘9-1-1’ season 9 episode 1 (Disney/Christopher Willard)
9-1-1 Series Description, Courtesy of ABC:
The series explores the high-pressure experiences of first responders—including police officers, firefighters, and dispatchers—who are thrust into the most frightening, shocking, and heart-stopping conditions. These emergency responders must try to balance saving those who are at their most vulnerable with solving the problems in their own lives.
The show draws from the real lives of first responders who regularly face situations that are often unpredictable, intense, and uplifting at the same time.
Anirudh Pisharody, Aisha Hinds and Kenneth Choi in the season 9 premiere (Disney/Christopher Willard)Aisha Hinds, Angela Bassett, Kenneth Choi, and Ryan Guzman in season 9 episode 1 (Disney/Christopher Willard)A scene from the premiere of season 9 (Disney/Christopher Willard)
Station 42 and the Leone family are devastated by the tragic death of Vince Leone (Billy Burke) as season four of CBS’s Fire Country begins on October 17, 2025. The new season promises to be one of the show’s most emotional to date, and episode one kicks things off with an intense rescue.
Max Thieriot stars as Bode, Kevin Alejandro is Manny, Diane Farr is Sharon, Jordan Calloway plays Jake, and Jules Latimer stars as Eve. The season four premiere was written by Tia Napolitano and directed by James Strong.
“Goodbye for Now” Plot: In the aftermath of the Zabel Ridge fire, Station 42 faces internal turmoil but must rally together for a high-stakes rescue that tests their strength, loyalty, and the future of the firehouse.
The fourth season will air on Fridays at 9pm ET/PT after the spinoff Sheriff Country and before Boston Blue.
The trailer for Discovery’s In the Eye of the Storm season two shows the devastation wrought by tornadoes, hurricanes, and fires. It also touches on the courage of first responders and ordinary citizens in extraordinary circumstances. The new season premieres on November 2, 2025, with new episodes arriving on Sundays at 10pm ET/PT.
The series’ first season drew in 11 million viewers, earning it the top spot among cable series for men ages 25 to 54 (excluding sports).
Poster for ‘In the Eye of the Storm’ (Photo Credit: Discovery)
Discovery offers this description of season two:
“From real-time footage to raw, firsthand accounts, each episode captures the chaos, courage and resilience of those who faced the fury head-on. This season kicks off with a harrowing account of freak weather in March 2025, when extreme atmospheric volatility unleashed a massive Texas haboob and more than 200 tornadoes across the southern states. Thousands of eyewitnesses captured disaster at their doorsteps as the storms devastated towns and homesteads, leaving a trail of destruction across multiple states, causing billions in damage and claiming at least 42 lives.
The season continues with powerful stories from across the country: local residents in Los Angeles and Pacific Palisades who became unexpected heroes as overwhelming wildfires engulfed entire neighborhoods in early 2025; the terrifying path of a tropical wave that intensified into Category 4 Hurricane Ian and devastated entire coastal communities in Florida; a rare and unexpected EF3 twister that touched down in a small Northern Michigan town; and the dramatic search-and-rescue efforts in Texas, where locals navigated streets by boat after Hurricane Harvey’s raging 130-mph winds tore apart entire buildings.”
‘The Age of Innocence’ by Edith Wharton (Book cover: Simon & Schuster)
Netflix’s The Age of Innocence has expanded to include new series regulars Fiona Glascott (Fantastic Beasts), Belinda Bromilow (The Great), and Emma Shipp (Rivals). The upcoming limited series is based on Edith Wharton’s critically acclaimed, Pulitzer Prize winning novel and is being adapted by Emma Frost (The White Queen).
The streamer also announced Hayley Mills (Trap), Ryan Morgan (Mix Tape), Will Tudor (Industry), John Light (Around The World in 80 Days), Steven Pacey (MobLand), Kel Matsena (Mad Heidi), and Lucia Balordi (A Testa Alta) have boarded in supporting roles. Elly Roberts (Sex Education), Jack Cutmore-Scott (Buffy), Anna Madeley (1949), and Michael Cochrane (Downton Abbey) also joined in supporting roles.
The newcomers join previously announced series regulars Camila Morrone, Kristine Froseth, Ben Radcliffe, and Margot Martindale.
The Age of Innocence Series Regulars:
Fiona Glascott as Augusta Welland, May’s mother; maternal, loving, and traditional.
Belinda Bromilow as Adeline Archer, Newland’s mother, an independent, well-informed widow who prefers solitude.
Emma Shipp as Janey Archer, Newland’s sister who is unmarried but desperately wants to change that.
Camila Morrone as Ellen Olenska, May’s intelligent and independent cousin, who returns to New York after a failed marriage to Count Stanislas Olenski, a Polish nobleman. A free spirit who is playful, smart, and strong-willed, yet carries conflict and guilt surrounding her new position in society.
Kristine Froseth as May Welland is a kind and genuine woman who is a product of her class in society. Traditional, a rule follower, and believer in the status quo, but not without rebellion.
Ben Radcliffe as Newland Archer is a handsome, progressive, and intelligent society gentleman. Newland craves a deeper and more passionate connection to the world and someone in it.
Margot Martindale as Mrs. Manson-Mingott, May and Ellen’s grandmother, who is entertaining, scurrilous, defiant, capricious, and stubborn.
The Age of Innocence Supporting Roles:
Hayley Mills as Louisa Van Der Luyden, Adeline’s cousin who is an influential and regal member of New York society.
Ryan Morgan as Lawrence Lefferts, Newland’s snide yet sociable friend.
Will Tudor as Sillerton Jackson, Friend of Newland who is lofty and a gossip with secrets of his own.
John Light as Mr. Lovell Mingott, May’s and Ellen’s uncle who is moral, pious, and community-minded.
Steven Pacey as Judge John Welland, May’s father. Augusta’s husband. Ellen’s uncle. A judge. He is learned, frail, accomplished, absent, selfish, and unemotional.
Kel Matsena as Ned Winsett, A working-class hero who is a friend of Newland and editor at a radical women’s magazine.
Lucia Balordi as Nastasia, Ellen’s ladies’ maid who has become a close friend and confidante.
Elly Roberts as Edith Mingott, sweet and unassuming cousin to May and Ellen.
Jack Cutmore-Scott as Julius Beaufort, an arrogant new-money banker at the center of New York society with an interest in Ellen.
Anna Madeley as Aunt Medora, Ellen’s lively, amoral aunt and former guardian.
Michael Cochrane as Henry Van Der Luyden. A descendant from British royalty, he is regal, removed, old-fashioned, and a cousin of Adeline Archer.
“Based on Edith Wharton’s classic novel of forbidden love in 19th-century New York, The Age of Innocence is a passionate and heart-rending will-they/won’t-they love triangle exploring themes of freedom, duty, identity, and love in all its forms,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “This fresh take is true to Wharton’s novel but will speak to a new generation as we traverse the ballrooms and bedrooms of these young people, asking the question what is love—and what is lust? And should we ultimately be driven by our heads or by our hearts?”
Emma Frost created the series and serves as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Additional executive producers include Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, Tracey Cook, Shannon Murphy, and Pavlina Hatoupis. Shannon Murphy directs the first three episodes and serves as an executive producer. Lisa Bruhlmann and Natalia Leite are also on board as directors.
Peaky Blinders lives on, returning with a new series that’s already been greenlit for two seasons. BBC and Netflix announced the Shelbys will continue on, as a new generation takes over the story. The series will be set after the Peaky Blinders film, which stars Cillian Murphy and is targeting a 2026 premiere.
The new series will film at Digbeth Loc. Studios, Birmingham, and each season will consist of six episodes. The series comes from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and has Cillian Murphy on board as an executive producer.
“I’m thrilled to be announcing this new chapter in the Peaky Blinders story,” said Knight. “Once again it will be rooted in Birmingham and will tell the story of a city rising from the ashes of the Birmingham blitz. The new generation of Shelbys have taken the wheel and it will be a hell of a ride.”
Per BBC and Netflix: “Britain, 1953. After being heavily bombed in WWII, Birmingham is building a better future out of concrete and steel. In a new era of Steven Knight’s Peaky Blinders, the race to own Birmingham’s massive reconstruction project becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions. This is a city of unprecedented opportunity and danger, with the Shelby family right at its blood-soaked heart.”
Kudos and Garrison Drama are producing the sequel, with Karen Wilson, Martin Haines, Jamie Glazebrook, Jo McClellan, Mona Qureshi, and Toby Bentley executive producing.
Netflix’s Mona Qureshi said, “We couldn’t be more excited to be embarking on a new chapter of Peaky Blinders with our wonderful partners at Kudos, Garrison Drama, and the BBC. There are few modern storytellers to match Steven Knight and we will be on the edge of our seats as he returns to the streets of Birmingham and to the next generation of the Shelby family. Along with our global audience, we are ready to be captivated anew!”
And commenting on the new series, Director of BBC Drama Lindsay Salt said, “This game-changing show made a huge impact when it first came to our screens 12 years ago and it is one of the BBC’s most-loved dramas. Steven has worked his magic once again and I can’t wait for his scripts to be brought to life when filming begins in Birmingham. We are delighted to be working with Kudos, Garrison Drama and Netflix on this epic show. There’s plenty of drama for Peaky fans to look forward to!”
Investigation Discovery has set a Tuesday, December 16, 2025 premiere date for The Secrets We Bury, which delves into a family’s decades-long quest for details on their father’s disappearance. The documentary will premiere at the Hamptons International Film Festival before its debut on ID.
ID offers this description: “In the early 1960s, George Carroll walked out on his family, leaving his wife, Dorothy, and their four children behind. Decades later, the Carroll siblings are still left haunted by what happened to their father. Seeking much-needed closure for himself and his family, The Secrets We Bury follows Mike Carroll as he unravels the mystery of his father’s disappearance and uncovers a story much darker and more complex than his family could have imagined.
Told through extensive sit-down interviews with the Carroll siblings and layered with intimate archival footage of the Carroll family spanning decades of their lives, the documentary offers a sensitive look into one family’s journey to find closure. Part mystery and part family drama, The Secrets We Bury raises important questions about whose stories we choose to believe and why.”
Mike Carroll in ‘The Secrets We Bury’ (Photo Courtesy of ID)
Pyramid Productions produced the documentary for Investigation Discovery.
“The Secrets We Bury is an intimate exploration of memory, family, and the lasting impact of generational trauma. By bravely sharing their story, the Carroll family reveals how the past, no matter how deeply buried, always has a way of resurfacing,” stated Jason Sarlanis, President of Investigation Discovery.
Season two of Paramount+’s Landman picks up in the aftermath of Jon Hamm’s character’s death. The official trailer shows the shift in power in the wake of Monty’s demise.
Billy Bob Thornton returns to star as Tommy Norris and Demi Moore stars as Cami Miller. The season two cast also includes Andy Garcia, Sam Elliott, Ali Larter, Jacob Lofland, Michelle Randolph, Paulina Chávez, Kayla Wallace, Mark Collie, James Jordan, and Colm Feore.
“Set in the boomtowns of West Texas, Landman is a modern tale of fortune seeking amongst roughnecks and wildcat billionaires—fueling an oil boom so big it’s reshaping the climate, the economy, and geopolitics,” reads Paramount+’s synopsis. “In season two, as oil rises from the earth, so do secrets—and Tommy Norris’s (Thornton) breaking point may be closer than he realizes. Facing mounting pressure from M-Tex Oil, Cami Miller (Moore), and the shadow of his kin, survival in West Texas isn’t noble—it’s brutal. And sooner or later something’s got to break.”
James Jordan, Sam Elliott, and Billy Bob Thornton in ‘Landman’ season 2 (Photo Credit: Emerson Miller / Paramount+)
The series premiered on November 17, 2024. Season two debuts on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace co-created the drama and serve as executive producers along with Billy Bob Thornton, David C. Glasser, David Hutkin, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Friedman, and Stephen Kay. Imperative Entertainment’s Dan Friedkin and Jason Hoch and Texas Monthly’s J.K. Nickell and Megan Creydt also executive produce.
Landman‘s produced by Paramount Television Studios, 101 Studios, and Sheridan’s Bosque Ranch Productions.
Just days before the 25th Annual Screamfest Horror Film Festival kicks off, the festival’s released details on its second wave of feature films screening during the event. The horror-centric festival runs October 7-16, 2025 and takes place at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
New additions to Screamfest’s lineup include Vicious starring Dakota Fanning, Damned If You Do with Harvey Guillén and Katie Siegel, and Love Is The Monster starring Madeline Zima and Leonardo Nam.
World Premieres
• Damned If You Do – Directed by Evan Metzold and Jake Rubin, their first feature starring Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows), Katie Siegel (The Haunting of Hill House) Ginger Gonzaga (She-Hulk), Paulo Costanzo (Royal Pains), Beth Dover (Orange Is the New Black) and Ed Weeks (The Mindy Project), is about three friends who make a deal with the devil and must rely on an old classmate and a devilish loophole to try and escape Hell’s grasp before the contract’s deadline: their 25th high school reunion.
• Don’t Leave The Kids Alone – A psychological horror from directors Rodrigo Herranz, Emilio Portes and starring Ana Serradilla (My Best Friend’s Wedding) and Jose Sefami (Amores Perros), about two very competitive siblings who, when they unpack their prized gaming console, reveal something sinister that makes them turn on each other.
• Love Is The Monster – Directed by Alex Noyer, this romance gone wrong follows troubled couples who head to a transformative retreat, where they fall prey to a sinister cult seeking to resurrect the Finnish ancient goddess of love.
• Host – Thai Amazon Original – A chilling reimagining of Thai folklore, starring Baipor-Thitiya Jirapornsilp, Perth-Veerinsara Tungkitsuvanich, and Jump-Pisitpol Ekaphongpisit and directed by acclaimed Thai director Pokpong-Pairach Khumwan. Host follows Ing (Baipor), who is sent to a remote all-girls reform school ruled by a strict hierarchy and a single rule, absolute obedience, only to find herself at the bottom as disturbing events begin to unfold.
Special Screening
• Vicious – Written and directed by Bryan Bertino and being released via Paramount, the film follows Polly (Dakota Fanning) who receives a mysterious Box from an unexpected late-night visitor. It comes with a simple instruction: place three things inside: something you need, something you hate, and something you love. What begins as a strange ritual quickly unravels into a waking nightmare. Trapped in a terrifying world where reality bends and memory betrays, Polly must navigate a series of impossible choices. As time slips away, she’s forced to confront the darkness not just around her, but within her—before it consumes everything and everyone she’s ever known.
North America Premiere
• Dead By Dawn – Directed by first time Polish filmmaker Dawid Torrone, the film follows a group of actors invited to rehearse a new play in a mysterious theater rumored to be owned by a family with ties to the occult. Soon, what should have been an ordinary rehearsal spirals into a desperate game of survival as a masked killer begins to stalk them. Unbeknownst to the cast, everything-the theater, the play, and the murders-is part of a dark, elaborate ritual.
U.S. Premiere
• A Fisherman’s Tale – Directed by Edgar Nito, and winning the New Visions Award at Sitges International Film Festival, the film is about the legendary beast, La Miringua, or the one that drags you in the lake for your sins.
• Summer Teeth – Directed by Drazen Zarkovic – A student on the run from a bad employer comes to a remote island to harvest tomatoes, but there awaits a team of goofy people, one true love and a fight for his life.
West Coast Premieres
• Before The Fall – Directed by F. Javier Gutierrez , will have its West Coast Premiere of its 4K Restoration. In this tense apocalyptic thriller, in three days, a meteor will collide with Earth, and the world will end. The palpable fear and tensions of impending doom are just the start as utter chaos erupts across the planet. Before The Fall won 4 awards in Screamfest 2009.
• Redux Redux – Directed by Kevin McManus and Matthew McManus, the film premiering at SXSW earlier this year, is about a woman who travels through parallel universes, repeatedly killing her daughter’s murderer. As she becomes consumed by vengeance, her humanity hangs in the balance.
• Thinestra – Directed by first time feature director Nathan Hertz, stars Mary Beth Marone (Overcompensating), Brian Huskey (Bob’s Burgers, Veep), and others, in a film about Penny who is plagued by body dysmorphia who impulsively takes Ozempic to curb her hunger. When her body starts to purge itself of its fat, it morphs into a ravenous dopplegänger that wreaks havoc while Penny tries to overcome her hunger before it’s too late.
LA Premiere
• Theatre Is Dead – Directed by Katherine Dudas, follows Willow, a brilliant engineering student, is captivated by acclaimed theater director Matthew Malvaggio, who casts her in his modern adaptation of Women of Trachis. As she becomes engrossed in the theater world, Matthew, a soul-sucking demon, exploits her insecurities, causing her castmates to exhibit increasingly bizarre behavior. On opening night, Willow must choose between her dream and killing the demon.
Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson in ‘The Smashing Machine’ (Photo Credit: Eric Zachanowich)
With a resume that includes movies from The Fast and The Furious franchise, Black Adam from the DC Universe, and Rampage (a personal favorite), it’s clear that former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a bona fide movie star. But can the guy act? Well, we’re about to find out, because here he comes with The Smashing Machine.
Set between the years 1997 and 2000, The Smashing Machine is about UFC/MMA fighter Mark Kerr (Johnson), who took his wrestling background into the cage to compete in some of the first Ultimate Fighting Championship events, back when there were literally no rules and the competitions were illegal in 49 of the 50 states. As a tough-guy fighter, Kerr winds up treating his injuries with powerful painkillers, with predictable addictive results. And his best friend/fellow fighter Mark Coleman (MMA fighter Ryan Bader) and girlfriend Dawn Staples (A Quiet Place’s Emily Blunt) are along for the stressful—and painful—ride.
That’s kind of all there is to The Smashing Machine. Writer/director Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems, Good Time) does the best he can with the material, but truth be told, the story itself isn’t all that interesting. Of course, Kerr’s exploits are more intriguing than those of the average joe, but it’s not Major Motion Picture compelling. It’s just a story of trials and tribulations, of hardship and redemption. And it’s a story we’ve all seen a million times.
Stylistically, it’s not even as kinetic as Safdie’s other films. The fight scenes are suspenseful and engaging, but much like the fights themselves in the no-holds-barred early days of the UFC, they’re over pretty quickly. The massive anxiety of Uncut Gems or the utter chaos of Good Time just isn’t there. For a filmmaker as exciting as Safdie, it’s a very average movie.
There are two edges to the sword of The Smashing Machine. One shows Kerr training and fighting in the sport which he loves, and which provides him his livelihood. And the other is the relationship between Mark and Dawn and the ups and downs that come with it. Neither are very fascinating alone, and the combination of the two isn’t much more exciting. Again, it’s all very average.
What saves the movie is the answer to the question at the beginning of this review. Can Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson act? The answer is a resounding YES. While it may seem as if the role of Mark Kerr is the closest Johnson has come to playing himself in a movie, what we get here is transformational. Instead of Johnson giving us the same character in different situations (as we’ve seen in his other movies), here he becomes Mark Kerr and shows an impressive emotional range while doing it. Johnson is able to portray both the highs and lows of Kerr’s character believably. This may be the role that Johnson was born to play, but that doesn’t change the fact that he nails it.
Emily Blunt is also very good, but her performance isn’t as surprising as that of Johnson. Audiences expect range from an Academy Award-nominated actress. What is surprising about Blunt’s performance is the chemistry that exists between her and Johnson. We saw some of it in Jungle Cruise, but while that was more comedic chemistry, what exists in The Smashing Machine is both powerful and explosive. Blunt and Johnson portray a couple who obviously love and care for each other but seem always on the edge of imploding. They are each other’s strength but also each other’s weakness. They hold each other up while tearing each other down. Good for each other, yet also bad for each other. And both Blunt and Johnson sell it.
Basically, The Smashing Machine is an average movie of an average story that’s elevated by a pair of fantastic performances. And that makes it a draw. Or, in the case of this movie, a No Contest. The most important thing that comes out of The Smashing Machine is Dwayne Johnson’s shift from Movie Star to Actor. And that’s an exciting shift that should be fun to watch in the coming years.
GRADE: B-
Rating: R for language and some drug abuse
Running Time: 2 hour 3 minutes
Release Date: October 3, 2025
Studio: A24
Paramount+’s Lioness has been renewed for a third season, with Oscar winners Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman confirmed to return as stars. The streamer’s official announcement did not include details on the season three plot or a targeted premiere date.
Season two also starred Michael Kelly, Morgan Freeman, Laysla De Oliveira, Genesis Rodriguez, and Dave Annable. Rounding out the ensemble were Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Thad Luckinbill, and Hannah Love Lanier.
“In season two, the CIA’s fight against terror moved closer to home. Joe (Saldaña), Kaitlyn (Kidman), and Byron (Kelly) enlisted a new Lioness operative to infiltrate a previously unknown threat,” reads Paramount+’s synopsis. “With pressure mounting from all sides, Joe was forced to confront the profound personal sacrifices she made as the leader of the Lioness program.”
The series premiered in July 2023, followed by season two in October 2024.
Season two executive producers included series creator Taylor Sheridan, series stars Nicole Kidman and Zoe Saldaña, and David C. Glasser. Ron Burkle, Bob Yari, David Hutkin, Jill Wagner, David Lemanowicz, Geyer Kosinski, Michael Friedman, and Keith Cox also served as executive producers.
