IFC’s critically acclaimed mockumentary Documentary Now! returns for its fourth season on October 19, 2022 with a two-part premiere. The two-parter is titled “Soldier of Illusion” and will star Alexander Skarsgard (The Northman), Nicholas Braun (Succession), and August Diehl (Inglourious Basterds), with Skarsgard channeling German filmmaker Werner Herzog.
Additional season four – or season 53, depending on if you’re playing along with the running gag – stars include two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine, Carol), Liliane Rovère (Call My Agent!), Ronald Guttman (Godfather of Harlem), Emmy nominee Harriet Walter (Succession), Trystan Gravelle (Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power), Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes), John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of The Rings), and Jamie Demetriou (The Afterparty).
Documentary Now! was created by executive producers Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, and Rhys Thomas. Alex Buono, John Mulaney, Broadway Video’s Andrew Singer, and Lorne Michaels also executive produce the new season. Lee Groombridge, Matt Pacult, Tamsin Rawady, and Broadway Video’s Eddie Michaels and Andrew Garland produce. Thomas and Buono are the directors.
New episodes of the six-episode season will arrive on Wednesdays and be available on both IFC and AMC+.
Season 4 Episode Descriptions:
The two-part, season premiere episode, “Soldier of Illusion,” written by John Mulaney and starring Alexander Skarsgård, Nicholas Braun, and August Diehl, was inspired by the Werner Herzog-focused documentary Burden of Dreams. In the early 1980s, a visionary German filmmaker (Skarsgård) tries to will his magnum opus into existence while working in the remote, punishing conditions of the Russian Ular mountains. Kevin Bishop (Miracle Workers), Gana Bayarsaikhan (Wonder Woman), Matthias Rimpler (Ludzie i Bogowie), and Fred Armisen will also star, with Documentary Now! ensemble alumni Deb Hiett returning as narrator.
“Trouver Frisson” features French actor Liliane Rovère and Ronald Guttman. Inspired by Agnes Varda’s Gleaners and I and Beaches of Agnes, celebrated French filmmaker Ida Leos (Rovère) searches for why she no longer experiences “frisson” – the goosebumps that have always been her guide. Written by series producers Matt Pacult and Tamsin Rawady and co-directed by Micah Gardner, the episode also stars Documentary Now! alumni Gary Kraus.
“Two Hairdressers in Bagglyport” will star two-time Academy Award-winner and Documentary Now! alumni Cate Blanchett, as well as Emmy-nominated actress Harriet Walter. Paying homage to documentaries 3 Salons at the Seaside and The September Issue, the episode is a fly-on-the-wall portrait of a hair salon owner (Walter) and her staff (Blanchett), in the small coastal village of Bagglyport as they prepare their yearly stylebook. Fred Armisen will also star as George the Postman.
“How They Threw Rocks” will feature Welsh actors Trystan Gravelle, Jonathan Pryce, and John Rhys-Davies, as well as legendary Welsh singer Tom Jones. In the vein of When We Were Kings and other great explorations of sport, the episode chronicles the Welsh sport of Craig Maes, also known as “Field Rock,” and the iconic 1974 bout dubbed “The Melon vs. The Felon (Gravelle).” Fellow Welsh actor Sam C. Wilson (Dodger) joins as infamous Craig Maes competitor Sior Strawboss or “The Melon.”
“My Monkey Grifter” will be helmed by actor Jamie Demetriou. Drawing inspiration from My Octopus Teacher, the episode follows Benjamin Clay (Demetriou), a filmmaker who forms a deep, emotional, and financially taxing relationship with a monkey who may have ulterior motives. Fred Armisen also joins as Detective Blakely.
A&E is taking viewers inside civil trials with their Court Night LIVE series premiering on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT. The new series is hosted by Emmy-winning journalist and attorney Vinnie Politan (Court TV’s lead anchor) and Emmy Award winner Judge Greg Mathis, with Judge Vonda Evans providing analysis.
“Court Night LIVE will combine the inherent drama of live civil court proceedings with context and expert legal analysis, elevating the traditional court shows that have been a staple of the television landscape for decades,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for A&E. “Court Night LIVE gives viewers a chance to experience public trials live in the virtual courtroom gallery on air.”
According to A&E, the series will feature “civil cases from across the country litigated live from pop-up courtrooms in Philadelphia, Tampa, and Chicago in front of a gallery of community members. During each broadcast, viewers will have the chance to have their voices heard voting on the verdicts in select cases in real time via text message. Politan, Mathis, and Evans will provide context and bring their legal perspectives to viewers so that they can better understand how the wheels of justice turn.
As civil court cases became backed up over the last few years, pending cases have jumped over 30% with some people waiting over a year to get to trial. On top of that, many Americans have been stuck at home with their family and neighbors, racking up more and more grievances that make it harder than ever to sort through them. It’s time to take the court to the people and bring closure to those who are eager to get to their cases heard. Judges working from Philadelphia, Tampa, and Chicago will hear the cases and, sometimes, let viewers weigh in on the outcome.”
The reality series is executive produced by Big Fish Entertainment’s Dan Cesareo, Lucilla D’Agostino and John Zito, as well as A&E’s Elaine Frontain Bryant, Shelly Tatro, and Sean Gottlieb. Big Fish Entertainment produced the series for A&E.
The season nine ‘Alone’ contestants (Photo by: Brendan George Ko)
The History Channel’s Alone season nine finishes up with episode 11, “Fight, Flight or Freeze.” The episode begins on Day 62 with three survivalists remaining in the challenge. By the time episode 11 ends, one of the three contestants – Karie Lee, Juan Pablo, or Teimojin – has made it through Day 78 and emerged as the season’s winner. (I’m withholding naming the winner until the end of this recap, just in case anyone accidentally reads this prior to watching the episode.)
The History Channel’s Alone season nine marked the first time 10 contestants attempted to survive the winter in the Labrador, Canada wilderness. The area’s known as polar bear country, however, it wasn’t predators that gave the season nine survivalists a hard time. Instead, the weather and lack of food took their toll on the participants.
‘Alone’ Season 9 competitor Teimojin (Photo by: Brendan George Ko / The History Channel)
Teimojin, Age 31, Montreal, CAN
Day 62: It’s only 14 degrees and 12 inches of snow have fallen overnight as Teimojin stands outside his shelter and catches snowflakes in his mouth. The area’s incredibly quiet and he admits to feeling really tired. He ate a pot of food last night, but he’s still weak as he heads a short way up the hill to fetch firewood.
Teimojin’s lost 54 pounds since the challenge began.
He’s only capable of carrying one bundle of firewood and realizes he’s got about 40 minutes of work a day in him at this point. His body’s weak but his head and his heart remain in the game.
Day 63: It’s slightly warmer at 17 degrees as Teimojin confesses this is the weakest he’s felt. He retrieves some water and nearly takes a tumble on his way back to his shelter. Teimojin’s walking at a snail’s pace and even that is a struggle.
Fortunately, he slept well and his last thoughts before he drifted off were of his mom welcoming him home at the airport. He really wants his mom to be inspired by what he’s doing. The area’s giving him joy, he loves the beauty of this land, and hopes to share this with his mom. He pledges to be a better son.
Teimojin has one final trick up his sleeve, dedicating his next move to the Canadian Grenadier Guards. At age 17 he saw a statue of a lion with a shield and decided he really wanted to help people. The statue turned out to be the Canadian coat of arms and he joined the army and has since been walking a path toward those who need his help.
He uses his tarp as a wrap as he gathers all his items, including the flag he flies over his shelter. The bundle he’s just created will be used as a sled. It turns out Teimojin has decided to tap but wants to walk down to the water on his own, rather than have someone come to fetch him.
“Leaving standing tall – I think that’s what my mom needs to see,” says Teimojin as he pushes his bundle up a small hill.
He has clarity now and knows what he’s meant to do and who he wants by his side while he’s doing it. He makes it to the river and officially taps out.
‘Alone’ season 9 competitor Karie (Photo by: Brendan George Ko / The History Channel)
Karie Lee, Age 57, Sandpoint, ID
Day 62: Karie wastes energy having a snowball fight with herself, and chuckles about wasting calories. She’s lost 49 pounds since Day 1 and is ready to find another squirrel. She’s hopeful there’s a frozen squirrel in her traps under the snow.
Karie’s plan remains to open a wilderness school and she’s already financed 13 acres of land. She’s going to move her yurt there and build her first real house since she left home at 18. Her yurt will be used as an indoor classroom. The $500,000 Alone prize money would pay off her land and start her school.
Karie spots bunny tracks and follows them. It’s snowing as she sees a squirrel and takes a shot. Unfortunately, it’s a miss. She admits she’s surprised she even took that shot since she’s weak and pulling the bow takes a lot of energy.
Her search for her arrow is unsuccessful and her stomach’s hurting from lack of food.
Day 66: The sun’s shining as Karie has a breakfast of warm water and fruit leather. She has to eat the fruit leather in small amounts or else her stomach hurts.
Karie heads out to do a little hunting and spots more snowshoe hare tracks in the snow. She’s worried about having the strength to pull her bow and decides to head back to camp, warning herself not to cry.
She’s there for those who can’t be, including her friend Collette who has cancer and requested she dedicate her journey to her. Her friend’s goal is to live long enough to see Karie on Alone. If Collette can handle what she’s going through, then Karie knows she can handle the fruit leather and the cold.
Day 67: Karie heads out to get alder to make snow skis. She plans on using them to help her track hares. She confesses she’s close to feeling like she’s done, and now she needs to decide what to do next. Should she hunker down or push herself to get food?
Since she’s gathered the wood for skis, she opts to work on making her skis so she can hunt.
Day 68: Although she can’t stay warm, Karie’s mind is back in the game. “I am not thinking about tapping out,” she notes, recommitting herself to continue. She’s hoping to finish the skis tomorrow.
Day 69: She’s tired and thinks it might be the perfect day to make tea and sleep.
Day 70: She still hasn’t finished the skis and will take the day moment-by-moment.
Day 71: Morning arrives, and Karie’s body is achy. She didn’t get much sleep but is still not ready to tap.
Day 72: It’s midday and Karie’s in bed and can’t stay warm.
Day 74: Karie’s shelter door is covered with a blanket of snow, and it takes a little effort to open it. She’s basically living in an igloo at this point. Her spirit’s good but she’s not sleeping and her body’s tired. Karie feels like crying and although she should look for animal tracks, she doesn’t have the energy.
Karie becomes emotional and apologizes for crying. She briefly walks back inside her shelter and returns with a sign that reads, “Do Your Dream.” (It was the one picture/photo she was allowed to bring.) It took her years to get to this place, but her dream is deeper than just the show. She jokes that maybe she’s done today but then quickly says no. She’s determined to stay a while longer.
Day 75: Karie’s in her shelter with the radio in her lap. She’s craving healthy food and knows she can’t possibly use her bow at this point. She tears up, realizing she can’t get any food. “It’s just time to take care of myself,” she says, adding, “I’m going to. I know this is the right thing.”
She’ll remember this experience for the rest of her life. Karie feels blessed to know this land. Her heart pounds as she hears the helicopter and she’s overcome with emotion as she says, “I get to go home!”
This experience has been a right of passage and she’s now ready to accept that she’s an elder. She’s going home with a lot of newfound wisdom.
‘Alone’ season 9 competitor Juan (Photo by: Brendan George Ko / The History Channel)
Juan Pablo, Age 30, Pinawa, CAN
Day 62: Juan’s hungry but that’s the least of his problems. Icicles are destroying his tarp, and holes are appearing in it allowing the cold air and rain/snow in. He sews a patch as he explains he’s committed to winning this for his partner, Jennifer. He wants to buy a house, get married, and start a family.
Juan recognizes there are really two choices: walk out of the wilderness or hunker down. He’s chosen to hunker down and fast. It’s been 11 days since he’s eaten, but he’s still got his sense of humor as he points out his patch looks like a five-year-old did it.
Day 64: It’s 15 degrees and Juan plans to make some warm tea. The river’s not good for ice fishing or walking yet and is super icy. He carefully retrieves a pan of water and notes that this cold can wear people down. Today will be the first time he’s built a fire in his shelter since he built his stove 62 days ago.
He’s marking the time in the wilderness by setting different milestones, giving him something to look forward to as well as changing things up.
Juan made a mallet on Day 23 and now he uses it along with his ax to cut some of the firewood he previously gathered and stored in his tent. He starts his first fire and declares he’s completely invested in winning Alone.
Not long after announcing he’s doing everything by the book, safety-wise, he fills his tent with smoke from his first fire. (He definitely jinxed himself!) The paint cans he used to build the fireplace are letting off a weird smell and he believes the smoke is toxic. Juan’s forced to open the door to clear the air so he doesn’t get sick.
Juan admits he’s upset since he was really looking forward to his first fire. Now, he feels sick and his head hurts.
Juan’s forced to waste energy trying to get the smoke out of his shelter. He realizes he’ll have to redo his stove since the paint cans were such a bad idea. Fortunately, he saved other cans that he can use to replace the paint cans.
It’s a huge job but he really doesn’t have a choice at this point. He fills in gaps in the reconstructed stove with mud and this time his fire doesn’t let off toxic smoke. It’s night before he’s finished, and he steps outside to make sure the chimney’s working. Everything seems to be just fine and he’s happy he was able to solve the problem.
Day 67: Juan grabs the camera because he thinks he just saw a polar bear. He’s never seen one before and uses the zoom on the camera to verify what he saw. He can’t find the bear again, and now he thinks his mind’s playing tricks on him.
He fetches more water as his mind and body tell him it’s just another day at the office. All he does is get water and then do nothing.
Day 68: Juan’s back hurts and he admits he’s being sloppy when it comes to tending his fire. The effort has been a drain and he almost cuts himself while chopping more wood. He reminds himself he needs to focus on what he’s doing.
Day 69: Juan laughs as he reveals he’s at the part of his journey where he’s feeling cuckoo.
Day 70: He’s in full starvation mode as he sits by the river. He thinks there might still be a long time to go and is worried about his body deteriorating.
Day 72: It’s 12:15am and Juan has no idea why he’s up recording. He tells himself to go to bed. Before he turns the camera off, he asks, “What am I doing with my life?”
3:49pm and Juan’s in bed, eyes wide open, just staring straight ahead.
Day 73: Juan spots a mouse in his shelter but doesn’t kill it. He thinks he’s got low blood pressure right now and says it’s been an ordeal, but it’s also been a blur. He decides to take his first walk in a long while, hoping he’ll be much better mentally afterward.
He walks over the now-frozen river with his ice chisel, and it gives him joy to finally be able to safely do so. He’s decided when he gets home, he’ll propose.
Day 78: He’d like a day of full sleep, without even getting up to get water. He’s about to doze off when his alarm beeps, telling him a med check team is on its way. He’s worried because he’s dehydrated and thinks he’ll be medically tapped out.
He gets busy hydrating and making a fire, hoping he can convince the medical team he’s okay to continue. A chopper swoops in as he’s drinking, and Juan believes he’s down at least three liters.
They weigh him and examine his body, going through the whole check while he continues to worry he’s going to be pulled. They ask how he’s feeling, and he describes the area and the situation as similar to where he lives with his girlfriend.
As he’s speaking, we see Jennifer walking in the snow toward his camp.
Juan explains he’s feeling at home and really enjoyed the view while he was just out walking on the ice. He’s getting emotional while talking about planning since Day 1 to walk on the ice. He doesn’t notice Jennifer coming up behind him. She gathers him up in a huge hug and has the honor of telling him he won!
He’s so glad they brought her and that she’s there, and he quickly explains he thought he saw a polar bear but was wrong – just like on one of their camping trips.
They kiss and he gives her a tour of his shelter.
Juan can’t stop smiling as he and Jennifer hold hands and walk across the ice. He can’t believe he won half a million dollars and can fulfill their dreams. “It feels so liberating,” says Juan. “Jennifer is an amazing person. She’s everything to me.”
Juan’s not sure when he’s going to propose but he’s going to plan something to make her feel special.
He put a lot of heart into this competition. “My biggest takeaway from this experience is your soul matters, having a strong mission in life matters, and that your life experience really matters,” explains Juan. He’s proud of lasting 78 days and aware he’s really achieved something.
The Banshees of Inisherin is the In Bruges reunion we need…and to be honest, really deserve…in 2022. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson square off again on screen in what appears, based on the trailer, to be another must-see feature from writer/director Martin McDonagh.
Speaking as an In Bruges fan, the only way I could possibly be more excited about The Banshees of Inisherin reuniting the In Bruges threesome would be if this were an actual sequel to that critically acclaimed 2008 Oscar-nominated film.
Barry Keoghan (The Killing of a Sacred Deer) and Kerry Condon (McDonagh’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) also star. McDonagh, Graham Broadbent, and Peter Czernin are the producers.
Searchlight Pictures is targeting an October 21, 2022 theatrical release.
The Plot: “Set on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland, The Banshees of Inisherin follows lifelong friends Pádraic (Farrell) and Colm (Gleeson), who find themselves at an impasse when Colm unexpectedly puts an end to their friendship. A stunned Pádraic, aided by his sister Siobhán (Condon) and troubled young islander Dominic (Keoghan), endeavours to repair the relationship, refusing to take no for an answer. But Pádraic’s repeated efforts only strengthen his former friend’s resolve and when Colm delivers a desperate ultimatum, events swiftly escalate, with shocking consequences.
Poster for Searchlight Pictures’ ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’
Archer claims that until now he’s been the careful, rule-respecting one but now the gloves are off. The new trailer for FXX’s Archer season 13 finds the group competing for the leadership position while Archer insists he’s always been the responsible one!
The Emmy Award-winning adult animated comedy features the voices of H. Jon Benjamin as the world’s greatest spy, “Sterling Archer;” Aisha Tyler as the spy with marital troubles, “Lana Kane;” Judy Greer as the crazy office assistant in search of a special skill, “Cheryl/Carol Tunt;” Chris Parnell as the reliable company-man, “Cyril Figgis;” Amber Nash as the enthusiastic offender, “Pam Poovey;” Adam Reed as the opportunist, “Ray Gillette,” and Lucky Yates as the experimenter-in-chief, “Algernop Krieger.”
Guest stars include Kenan Thompson, Alison Pill, Christian Slater, Kayvan Novak, and Stephen Tobolowsky.
Season 13 premieres on August 24, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT on FXX.
The Plot: Archer is an animated, half-hour comedy that follows Sterling Archer as he navigates the changing landscape of the spy world. This season, Archer and The Agency have been acquired by Fabian Kingsworth and the spy conglomerate known as IIA (International Intelligence Agency). As the gang struggles to find their identity performing odd missions for Fabian, one question arises: will they be able to maintain independence, or will they succumb to their corporate overlords?
Ana Navarro, Sara Haines, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Alyssa Farah Griffin, and Sunny Hostin co-host ‘The View’ season 26 (ABC/Lou Rocco)
After seven seasons as a contributor and recurring appearances as a guest co-host, The View has officially elevated Ana Navarro to series co-host. The daytime talk show also announced former Trump administration communications strategist and spokesperson for Trump, the vice president, and secretary of defense Alyssa Farah Griffin is on board as a co-host for the show’s upcoming 26th season.
The two new Republican co-hosts will be part of a panel that includes moderator Whoopi Goldberg and co-hosts Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, and Sara Haines. Season 26 of The View is set to premiere in September 2022.
“Ana has made an indelible impact on The View since the first time she joined us at the table,” stated executive producer Brian Teta. “She is a strong independent thinker with savvy insight, not to mention that she is whip-smart and fiercely funny. We are very happy to officially welcome her as a co-host.”
“The View is an institution and incomparable platform for women of different backgrounds to share their opinions and insights,” said Navarro. “It’s been a long courtship, but we’re finally making it official. I love being on the show, and I love living in Miami. I’m happy I will be able to do both. Thank you to ABC News, The View family and our loyal viewers for their continued support.”
Farah Griffin participated in 29 episodes of The View season 25 before being named as a season 26 co-host.
”We promised to take a little time to fill the seat and we have found the right match and a welcome addition to the show with Alyssa,” said Teta. “She is willing to share her unique political experience and brings a strong conservative perspective while holding her own in tough debates with her co-hosts and guests on both sides of the aisle.”
“I couldn’t be more honored and thrilled to join the ladies of ‘The View,’” said Farah Griffin. “The show paved the way for women speaking up and speaking out on TV. At a time when our country is so divided, often on partisan lines, I’m honored to represent the conservative perspective. I hope to model what is too often lost by our elected leaders: learning from others, disagreeing respectfully, and focusing on finding real solutions for our country.”
What do you get when five assassins, a silver briefcase, a distraught father, a mobster’s son, and a poisonous snake are all on the fastest train in Japan? You get the R-rated action-comedy Bullet Train starring Brad Pitt.
The film focuses on Ladybug (Pitt), an unlucky assassin who’s recently left therapy to go back to work for his handler (Sandra Bullock) on what she promises is a simple assignment: to snatch and grab a silver briefcase that’s on the Bullet Train.
Ladybug’s mission becomes much more complicated, however, due to the other assassins onboard. Among the motley collection of professional killers are Lemon (Brian Tyree Henry) and Tangerine (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), two quirky British assassins who are known as “The Twins” and who are babysitting the son of a ruthless mobster known as “The White Death.” Then there’s The Prince (Joey King), a young woman who uses her youthful appearance and school-girl clothes to disarm her targets into thinking she’s just a sweet, scared kid.
Also on board the world’s fastest train are The Hornet (Zazie Beetz), a killer who always uses poison on her victims, and The Wolf (Bad Bunny), a former enforcer who has boarded the train looking to avenge his murdered wife. Oh, and last but not least, a poisonous snake that was stolen from the zoo.
As Ladybug repeatedly attempts to exit the train with the briefcase, he keeps getting into deadly altercations with the other assassins. He and his handler begin to realize that something else is going on and that all the assassins seem to be after the silver case. To make matters evenly deadlier, The White Death is waiting at the final stop in Kyoto with a small army of hitmen to finish off anyone still alive on the train.
Brad Pitt and Bad Bunny star in ‘Bullet Train’ (Photo By: Scott Garfield)
Directed by David Leitch (Deadpool 2, Atomic Blonde) and based on the Japanese novel Maria Beetle by Kôtarô Isaka, Bullet Train is a tongue-in-cheek, dark action-comedy with an impressive cast and plenty of mindless, chaotic action that goes on way too long for its own good. It’s a live-action Looney Toons with Brad Pitt in place of Bugs Bunny.
Brad Pitt is hilarious and perfectly cast as Ladybug, the in-over-his-head former assassin who’s trying to stay in his Zen zone as he continuously gets into deadly altercations with professional killers. It’s Pitt’s performance that makes the film worthwhile to sit through. And Brian Tyree Henry and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have great chemistry as Lemon and Tangerine, two killers who always work together as partners but who bicker and argue more than they actually kill.
The biggest problem with the film, besides its overly long running time that could easily have been trimmed down by 20 minutes, is the over-the-top, violent, blood-splattering fight scenes that’ll force some audience members to wince and look away from the screen for nearly half of the film. In other words, go into it knowing you’re in for a lot of bloody fight scenes.
Although it’s too long and too bloody, a terrific performance by Brad Pitt and the strong supporting cast make Bullet Train a fun, action-packed, comical, and entertaining ride. Hop on board, if you don’t mind plenty of violence.
GRADE: B-
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive language, brief sexuality, and strong and bloody violence
The Umbrella Academy‘s Tom Hopper and The Vampire Diaries‘ Kat Graham star in the Netflix romantic comedy Love in the Villa. The official trailer gives away pretty much the entire plot but given it’s a romantic comedy about two strangers who are forced to share the same villa, any romcom fan could have figured out the story on their own even without watching the trailer.
The cast includes Raymond Ablack, Laura Hopper, Sean Amsing, and Emilio Solfrizzi. Mark Steven Johnson (Love Guaranteed, When in Rome) wrote, directed, and produced the film, with Stephanie Slack and Margret H. Huddleston also involved as producers.
Love in the Villa will be released on September 1, 2022.
The Plot: Julie Hutton (Graham) has always been certain that if she waited long enough, she would be destined for a life of romance. She’s about to go on her lifelong dream trip to Verona, Italy, and her boyfriend, Brandon, might even finally propose. So no one is more blindsided than Julie when Brandon suddenly breaks it off with her, leaving her to embark to the City of Love on her own. After all, she has been planning this trip to Verona for years.
When she arrives at La Villa Romantica, Julie is surprised that her rental is already occupied by Charlie (Hopper), a handsome, yet unfriendly, British man who is in town for business — and no pleasure at all. For Charlie, his annual stay at the villa is purely pragmatic: the villa is conveniently located near the wine exhibition he attends working for the largest wine importer in London. Neither has signed up for a roommate for the week, but Julie and Charlie are forced to reluctantly share the villa because of a mix-up. Ever the optimist, Julie eventually tries to make the most of the situation and sees that, perhaps, destiny still has a plan for her.
The huge ensemble cast of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power took to the stage at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con – held in-person and under strict Covid-19 protocols – to promote the epic fantasy series. The cast also made their way down a lengthy red carpet for brief interviews about the much-anticipated series which premieres on September 2, 2022.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, thousands of years prior to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Among the new characters set to be introduced in season one is Halbrand (played by Charlie Vickers, Medici), a human whose encounter with Galadriel changes the course of his life. Owain Arthur (A Confession) stars as Prince Durin IV, a character Tolkien fans will recognize as a king of the dwarves who bore one of the Rings of Power.
Vickers and Arthur were among the among the cast members who participated in interviews at Comic-Con, and Arthur even treated us to a duet with Trystan Gravelle who plays Pharazon.
Owain Arthur as Prince Durin IV in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ (Photo Courtesy of Prime Video)
Owain Arthur Interview – “Prince Durin IV”
So, you’re a dwarf in the show.
Owain Arthur: “I am a dwarf in the show. I am Prince Durin the IV in the show.”
How long did the makeup take?
Owain Arthur: “Three hours. It took three hours of sitting in a chair, getting to know people very intimately because we spend hours together. You know what I mean? By the time that I reached set, I felt like I’d already done a morning’s work…well, I did…but it was great.
It was one of those things that when I got cast as Durin and I got to play a dwarf, it was like, ‘Yes! I get to wear prosthetics. I get to wear a wig and carry a beard and put all these glorious costumes on.’ And the majority of the time I have to say I’ve been quite negative of it. I loved it, I’ve absolutely loved it, and it was an honor really to be able to put it on – as painful and tiring as it was.”
Did they give you a big book with your backstory or did you kind of suss it out as you’re going along?
Owain Arthur: “Do you know what? I’m trying to think now because we now know so much about Middle-earth and Khazad-dûm, I’m trying to think was it spoon-fed to me or if it happened through osmosis or was it… I don’t know.”
It’s hard to think back. It’s been a while.
Owain Arthur: “Yeah, I mean we did some digging. As a dwarf you kind of dig a lot, right? Stick with me. (Laughing) But yeah there was a lot, a lot of hard work, a lot of – as I said – digging into finding out who these people are.”
Are viewers going to love the dwarves?
Owain Arthur: “I mean, who doesn’t love a dwarf?”
That is a really good question.
Owain Arthur: “How can you not like a dwarf? They’re lovely, funny, heartfelt creatures.”
Were you a huge Lord of the Rings fan to begin with?
Owain Arthur: “Yes, the films. I was a huge fan of the films and then digging into Middle-earth you go, ‘Wow, this really is never ending what you can discover.’ I’m still learning about it and even watching the show for the fifth time you’re discovering more stuff about it. So I suppose that’s great for JD [Payne] and Patrick [McKay] who created the show because you discover more when you read Tolkien and you kind of see more when you watch the show as well. So, keep watching and watch it again and again and again.”
And knowledge of The Lord of the Rings isn’t necessary to understand and get into the series?
Owain Arthur: “Absolutely not. Absolutely not because like I said it’s a journey that you go on and you empathize, and you sympathize and love and root for people in the show. That’s perfect for a newbie to kind of… [Trystan Gravelle who plays Pharazon begins singing.] There’s some Welsh singing going on there. Sorry, I was just watching my fellow… It’s kind of like a call.”
(To Trystan) “You called, sorry. I just heard some Welsh music.”
Trystan Gravelle: “Are we going to belt one out?”
(Watch the video for the spontaneous duet.)
That was fantastic. Did singing break out on set all the time?
Owain Arthur: “You know what? I did sing a lot on set. There’s another song called ‘Yma o Hyd’ I would use to kind of activate Durin inside me, funnily enough.”
Because dwarves are singers?
Owain Arthur: “We do sing. We do, I believe. You always find workers who kind of go down in the mines and they often sing to kind of get them through the day. […] And when they drink as well. It’s a very drinking thing to do, right? To be singing. I haven’t been drinking, by the way.”
Are you sure?
Owain Arthur: (Laughing) “Uh no!”
Charlie Vickers Interview – “Halbrand”
Tell me about your character. Do we learn his backstory or do we jump right into it?
Charlie Vickers: “We sort of jump right in with Hal. His backstory sort of unfolds as the show unfolds, which is really nice. I think it’s a nice way to learn about a character where you sort of get little tidbits as it progresses.”
Did you get tidbits or a bible to read about him?
Charlie Vickers: “I got, yeah, not quite a bible but a lot of information. There was a lot to wade through, as with all of Tolkien’s works. I mean it’s so dense and so vast – the legendarium – so there was a lot of reading to be done.”
Was there one thing that you read where you were like, “Yeah, that’s him. That’s how I’ve got to capture him?”
Charlie Vickers: “I think there’s lots of specific things, but I think rather than a specificity it was more like the overall, the vastness of the world. I found some really useful things in Tolkien’s letters actually that really helped me with the character.”
Do you think viewers will need to read anything in particular to understand the stories?
Charlie Vickers: “I don’t think they need anything in particular. I think it’s more something that can stand alone by itself, the show. But, of course, if you have knowledge of the world and the legendarium, it will only help with understanding the story as a whole, and it will feed and inform what you’re watching. But I think the beauty of the show and the way that they developed it is that you can watch it as a standalone thing.”
If you were to describe the series in one word what would it be?
Charlie Vickers: “Magical is the first word that comes to mind, yeah. That is…I haven’t thought that through in a huge amount but that is the first word so there’s something there.”
Morfydd Clark (Galadriel) and Charlie Vickers (Halbrand) in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ (Photo Credit: Ben Rothstein / Amazon Studios)
Prime Video’s released the following description of season one:
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.
Disney+ has shifted She-Hulk: Attorney at Law starring Orphan Black‘s Tatiana Maslany from August 17th to August 18, 2022 and announced a batch of new fall 2022 premiere dates, including the first season of Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory. Epic Adventures also dropped a trailer and confirmed a season two is already in the works for the adventure series debuting on September 8, 2022.
September 8th is also the premiere date for Growing Up from Brie Larson (Captain Marvel). James Cameron’s Super/Natural – narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch who, hopefully, will not have to pronounce the word “penguins” – will debut on September 21st. The second season of the family-friendly hockey series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers skates in on September 28th.
Season 31 of Dancing with the Stars debuts on Disney+ on September 19th. After 30 seasons of airing on ABC, Dancing with the Stars announced its move to the streaming service in April 2022.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law – August 18
In Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) — an attorney specializing in superhuman-oriented legal cases — must navigate the complicated life of a single, 30-something who also happens to be a green 6-foot-7-inch superpowered hulk. The nine-episode comedy series welcomes a host of MCU vets, including Mark Ruffalo as Smart Hulk, Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky/the Abomination, and Benedict Wong as Wong, as well as Ginger Gonzaga, Josh Segarra, Jameela Jamil, Jon Bass, and Renée Elise Goldsberry.
Growing Up – September 8
Created by Brie Larson and Culture.House, Growing Up is an innovative hybrid docu-series that explores the challenges, triumphs, and complexities of adolescence through ten compelling coming of age stories. The series uses narrative, experimental, and documentary filmmaking to follow one casted individual, ages 18-22, as they tell their story. They represent a wide range of lived experiences, giving audiences emotionally powerful narratives that offer an engaging look at teenage-hood and the diverse social, familial, and internal obstacles young people face on their path to self-discovery and acceptance.
Each 30-minute episode features one young person, or “hero,” and their experience growing up. Each episode is anchored by a deeply personal interview that allows our heroes to walk us through their childhood and teenage years. Alongside these interviews, creative cinematic reenactments help bring their major inflection points to life.
Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory – September 8
The face of a new generation of aspirational adventurers and natural history filmmakers, 29-year-old National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory takes viewers on epic and nail-biting journeys that push into the most spectacular and secretive corners of our wild world. Armed with leading-edge film technology, the Disney+ original series Epic Adventures with Bertie Gregory, from National Geographic, breaks the mold of the traditional natural history program by telling extraordinary, real-life animal stories and taking viewers with him for every beat of the action. For weeks at a time, the charismatic BAFTA Award-winning cinematographer immerses himself into the animals’ lives to capture the untold stories of iconic creatures living in some of the harshest environments on our planet.
This season, we will see Bertie braving the icy worlds of Antarctica in search of the biggest gathering of whales ever filmed and coming face-to-face with specialist buffalo-hunting lions in Zambia. In this multipart adventure series, he will take audiences on an ambitious odyssey across the globe, showcasing the natural world at a time when it faces its greatest challenges.
Dancing with the Stars Season 31 – September 19 Dancing with the Stars is the hit series hosted by supermodel and businesswoman Tyra Banks and actor and television personality Alfonso Ribeiro in which celebrities are paired with trained ballroom dancers to compete in themed choreographed dance routines that are judged by a panel of renowned ballroom experts, including Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough.
Super/Natural – September 21
Executive-produced by James Cameron and narrated by Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning actor Benedict Cumberbatch, this new series will utilize the latest scientific innovations and leading-edge filmmaking technology to reveal the secret powers and super-senses of the world’s most extraordinary animals, inviting viewers to see and hear beyond normal human perception to experience the natural world as a specific species does — from seeing flowers in bee-vision to eavesdropping on a conversation between elephant seals to soaring the length of a football field with glow-in-the-dark squirrels.
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers Season 2 – September 28
After winning back the Mighty Ducks team name last year, our squad-with-heart and their coach Alex Morrow (Lauren Graham) take to the road to attend an intense summer hockey institute in California run by charming yet hardcore former NHL player Colin Cole (Josh Duhamel). It’s a place for kids to get excellent at hockey — without school to get in the way. As our Ducks try to survive in this super-competitive environment, they’re faced with the question: Can you win summer?
