The upcoming addition to the Predator film franchise, Prey, takes viewers back in time, with the action set in the 1700s. The first teaser trailer introduces Roswell, New Mexico‘s Amber Midthunder as a young Comanche warrior who attempts to track an alien predator.
In addition to Amber Midthunder, Prey features newcomer Dakota Beavers, Stormee Kipp (Sooyii), Michelle Thrush (The Journey Home), and Julian Black Antelope (Tribal). Dan Trachtenberg (The Boys, 10 Cloverfield Lane) directed from a screenplay by Patrick Aison (Jack Ryan). John Davis and Jhane Myers produce, and Lawrence Gordon, Marty Ewing, James E. Thomas, John C. Thomas, and Marc Toberoff executive produce.
20th Century Studios has set an August 5, 2022 premiere exclusively on Hulu.
Amber Midthunder in ‘Prey,’ from 20th Century Studios
Fox and Hulu released the following description of Prey along with details on their commitment to hiring Indigenous peoples for the prequel:
Set in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago, Prey is the story of a young woman, Naru, a fierce and highly skilled warrior. She has been raised in the shadow of some of the most legendary hunters who roam the Great Plains, so when danger threatens her camp, she sets out to protect her people. The prey she stalks, and ultimately confronts, turns out to be a highly evolved alien predator with a technically advanced arsenal, resulting in a vicious and terrifying showdown between the two adversaries.
The filmmakers were committed to creating a film that provides an accurate portrayal of the Comanche and brings a level of authenticity that rings true to its Indigenous peoples. Myers, an acclaimed filmmaker, Sundance Fellow, and member of the Comanche nation herself, is known for her attention and dedication to films surrounding the Comanche and Blackfeet nations and her passion for honoring the legacies of the Native communities. As a result, the film features a cast comprised almost entirely of Native and First Nation’s talent.
Fox confirms it’s adding three new dramas as well as two new animated comedies and an unscripted series to its 2022-2023 program lineup. The network hasn’t revealed fall premiere dates or its fall primetime lineup, but fans can expect new seasons of scripted series 9-1-1: Lone Star, The Cleaning Lady, Call Me Kat, and Welcome to Flatch. Fox has also renewed the animated comedies The Simpsons, Family Guy, Bob’s Burgers, The Great North, and Housebroken.
Unscripted shows The Masked Singer, Crime Scene Kitchen, and Hell’s Kitchen will also return.
Fox’s updated program slate did not include new seasons of 9-1-1 or The Resident. However, the network noted that additional renewals are still to be announced. (UPDATE: Fox has closed deals with both shows and have officially renewed 9-1-1 and The Resident.)
“FOX Entertainment enters the Upfront – a week literally built for broadcasters to align with advertisers – as the only company, no matter the platform, with advertising at its core. Advertisers have been our focus since the start of this company, and we’re proud that this too is proof of FOX’s differentiation,” stated Charlie Collier, CEO, FOX Entertainment. “As you’ll see during our presentation, building barriers between our best content and our brand-partners simply isn’t our business model.”
New dramas include Monarch with Trace Adkins, the crime anthology Accused, and missing persons drama Alert. The network’s upcoming new series also include the animated shows Grimsburg and Krapopolis, and the unscripted series Gordon Ramsay’s Food Star.
Fantasy Island fans will have to wait a bit longer for season two as Fox announced it’s moved the new season’s debut from the summer to the 2022-2023 season.
Michael Chiklis as Dr. Scott Corbett in ‘Accused’ (Photo Credit Steve Wilkie 2022 Fox Media LLC)
Details on Fox’s New Series:
Monarch is a Texas-sized, multi-generational musical drama about America’s first family of country music. In Monarch, the Romans are headed by the insanely talented, but tough-as-nails Queen of Country Music DOTTIE CANTRELL ROMAN (Susan Sarandon) and her beloved husband, “Texas Truthteller” ALBIE ROMAN (Trace Adkins). Dottie and Albie have created a country music dynasty. But even though the Roman name is synonymous with authenticity, the very foundation of their success is a lie. And when their reign as country royalty is put in jeopardy, heir to the crown NICOLETTE “NICKY” ROMAN (Anna Friel) will stop at nothing to protect her family’s legacy, while ensuring her own quest for stardom.
Accused: Based on the BBC’s BAFTA-winning British crime anthology, comes a provocative series that takes you on the journey of the defendant. Each episode opens in a courtroom on the accused, with viewers knowing nothing about their crime or how they ended up on trial. Told from the defendant’s point of view through flashbacks, Accused holds a mirror up to the current times with evocative and emotional stories.
In Accused, viewers discover how an ordinary person gets caught up in an extraordinary situation, ultimately revealing how one wrong turn leads to another until it’s too late to turn back. Emmy and Golden Globe winner Michael Chiklis guest-stars in the premiere episode, as Dr. Scott Corbett, a successful brain surgeon with a seemingly perfect family. He faces the limits of unconditional love when he discovers his teenage son may be planning a violent attack at school. Later in the season, Marlee Matlin, Billy Porter, and Michael Chiklis each direct episodes of the anthology crime drama.
Alert is a character-driven police procedural about the LAMPU — the Los Angeles Police Department’s missing person’s unit. When police officer Nikki Parker’s son goes missing, she joins the LAPD’s Missing Person’s Unit to help other people find their loved ones, even as she searches for her own. Six years later, her world is turned upside-down when her ex-husband, Devon Zoellner, shows up with a proof-of-life photo of their missing boy. Or is it?
Alert is a procedural drama with a heart-pounding, life-or-death search for a missing person in each episode, that runs alongside Nikki and Devon’s quest to find out the truth about the person claiming to be their long-lost son. It’s a case-of-the-week show with a case-of-a-lifetime story running through it — a story that alternately brings our two main characters gut-wrenching heartache and heart-pounding joy.
Grimsburg stars Emmy Award winner Jon Hamm, who also serves as an executive producer on the series. In Grimsburg, Marvin Flute (Hamm) may be the greatest detective ever to catch a cannibal clown or correctly identify a mid-century modern armoire. But there’s one mystery he still can’t crack — his family. Now that he’s back in Grimsburg, a town where everyone has a secret or three, Flute will follow every lead he’s got to redeem himself with the ex-wife he never stopped loving, even if it means hanging out with the son he never bothered to get to know.
Krapopolis: From Emmy Award-winning creator Dan Harmon comes Krapopolis, an animated series like no other. Set in mythical Ancient Greece, the series centers on a flawed family of humans, gods, and monsters that tries to run one of the world’s first cities without killing each other. The series’ voice cast features Emmy Award winner Hannah Waddingham, Richard Ayoade, Matt Berry, Pam Murphy, and Duncan Trussell.
In the series, Ayoade voices “Tyrannis”, the mortal son of a goddess. He’s the benevolent King of Krapopolis trying to make do in a city that lives up to its name. Waddingham plays “Deliria,” Tyrannis’ mother, goddess of self-destruction and questionable choices. Within her extended Olympian family – forged in patricide and infidelity – she’s known as the trashy one. Berry is “Shlub,” Tyrannis’ father, a mantitaur (half centaur [horse + human], half manticore [lion + human + scorpion]). He is oversexed and underemployed, claims to be an artist and has literally never paid for anything, in any sense of that word, for his entire life. Murphy voices “Stupendous,” Tyrannis’ half-sister, daughter of Deliria and a cyclops. Trussell plays “Hippocampus,” Tyrannis’ half-brother, offspring of Shlub and a mermaid, and, obviously, a hot mess, biologically speaking.
Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars: Award-winning chef, restaurateur and presenter Gordon Ramsay puts his knives aside as he hunts for the most exciting and innovative new food & drink entrepreneurs in his brand-new competition series, Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars. This time, he’s prepared to put his money where his mouth is, by backing the winner with an investment to take their idea to the next level. But to win Ramsay’s support, it will take more than just a great idea. As he pushes contestants to their limits through a series of relentless challenges, they’ll have to prove they possess the raw ingredients required to succeed – drive, dedication, creativity, passion and talent.
Being the last entrepreneur standing will earn the winner a life-changing reward. They just need to survive Gordon Ramsay — the only angel investor.
Pixar Animation Studios just released concept art and the title treatment for the animated film Elemental. The movie marks Pixar’s 27th feature film and will be directed by The Good Dinosaur‘s Peter Sohn.
According to Pixar’s brief press release, Elemental is inspired by Sohn’s childhood experiences in New York. “My parents emigrated from Korea in the early 1970s and built a bustling grocery store in the Bronx,” stated Sohn. “We were among many families who ventured to a new land with hopes and dreams—all of us mixing into one big salad bowl of cultures, languages, and beautiful little neighborhoods. That’s what led me to Elemental.”
Sohn added: “Our story is based on the classic elements—fire, water, land, and air. Some elements mix with each other, and some don’t. What if these elements were alive?”
Pixar’s set a June 16, 2023 premiere date for Elemental.
Pixar’s teaser description:
“The film journeys alongside an unlikely pair, Ember and Wade, in a city where fire-, water-, land- and air-residents live together. The fiery young woman and the go-with-the-flow guy are about to discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common.”
Pixar launched with the release of Toy Story in 1995. That critically acclaimed box office giant was followed by A Bug’s Life in 1998, Toy Story 2 in 1999, Monsters, Inc in 2001, and Finding Nemo in 2003. Next came The Incredibles in 2004, Cars in 2006, Ratatouille in 2007, WALL-E in 2008, Up in 2009, and Toy Story 3 in 2010.
Cars 2 was released in 2011 followed by Brave in 2012, Monsters University in 2013, Inside Out in 2015, The Good Dinosaur in 2015, and Finding Dory in 2016. Cars 3 came out in 2017, with Coco releasing in 2017, Incredibles 2 in 2018, Toy Story 4 in 2019, Onward in 2020, Soul in 2020, Luca in 2021, and Turning Red in 2022.
The Toy Story prequel Lightyear is scheduled to open on June 17, 2022.
The team hustles to stop a terrorist attack on CBS’s S.W.A.T. season five episode 22, the season finale. Directed by Billy Gierhart from a script by Andrew Dettmann and J. Stone Alston, episode 22 – “Farewell” – will air on Sunday, May 22, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT.
The season five cast is led by Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson. Alex Russell stars as Jim Street, Jay Harrington plays David “Deacon” Kay, Lina Esco is Christina “Chris” Alonso, Kenny Johnson is Dominique Luca, David Lim is Victor Tan, and Patrick St. Esprit stars as Commander Robert Hicks.
Recurring guest stars include Obba Babatundé and Rochelle Aytes.
“Farewell” Plot: When control of a university chemistry lab is seized, the SWAT team races to thwart a devastating terror attack, on the fifth season finale.
Series Description, Courtesy of CBS:
Inspired by the television series and the feature film, S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as a former Marine and locally born and raised S.W.A.T. sergeant, tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson strives to bridge the divide between his two worlds. However, Hondo is forced to question his professional identity when he is demoted from Squad Leader after going public to expose racial corruption within the LAPD.
The other members of Hondo’s elite S.W.A.T. unit include David “Deacon” Kay, an experienced S.W.A.T. officer and dedicated family man who always puts the team first; Christina “Chris” Alonso, a skilled officer and the team’s canine trainer; Dominique Luca, an expert driver who gets them in and out of high risk situations; newlywed Victor Tan, who started in the LAPD Hollywood Division and uses his confidential informants in the community to help the team; and Jim Street, the team’s cocky newest member. Responsible for the management of all Metro Division S.W.A.T. units is Commander Robert Hicks, a senior LAPD official with the Special Operations Bureau.
With Hondo no longer leading the charge, these dedicated men and women face an uncertain future as they bravely put themselves at risk to protect their community and save lives.
David Tennant and Catherine Tate return to ‘Doctor Who’ (Photo Courtesy: BBC Studios)
The upcoming season of Doctor Who is going to mark the reunion of a couple of fan favorites with showrunner Russell T. Davies. BBC Studios confirmed David Tennant and Catherine Tate are currently shooting scenes for the upcoming season that are set to air in 2023. Tennant and Tate are returning to the long-running sci-fi series as part of the show’s 60th anniversary celebration.
Davies was the showrunner during Tennant’s run as The Doctor. As showrunner Davies is credited with catapulting the series to new ratings heights after taking over in 2005. The upcoming season marks Davies’ return after a 12-year absence.
“They’re back! And it looks impossible – first, we announce a new Doctor, and then an old Doctor, along with the wonderful Donna, what on earth is happening? Maybe this is a missing story. Or a parallel world. Or a dream, or a trick, or a flashback,” said Davies announcing Tennant and Tate’s return. “The only thing I can confirm is that it’s going to be spectacular, as two of our greatest stars reunite for the battle of a lifetime.”
BBC Studios teased Tennant and Tate’s return:
“The Doctor and Donna parted ways when the Doctor had to wipe Donna’s memory, making her forget him, in order to save her life. He left her family with a warning: if ever she remembers, she will die. But with the two coming face to face once more, the big question is, just what brings the Doctor and Donna back together?
In his last ever episode, David’s critically acclaimed portrayal of the Doctor famously said ‘I don’t want to go…’ Well it seems he – and fans across the globe – have got what they wanted as the iconic duo are on their way back…”
Earlier this month it was announced Sex Education‘s Ncuti Gatwa will be the first Black actor to take on the role of the Doctor.
“The future is here and it’s Ncuti! Sometimes talent walks through the door and it’s so bright and bold and brilliant, I just stand back in awe and thank my lucky stars,” explained Davies. “Ncuti dazzled us, seized hold of the Doctor and owned those TARDIS keys in seconds. It’s an honour to work with him, and a hoot, I can’t wait to get started. I’m sure you’re dying to know more, but we’re rationing ourselves for now, with the wonderful Jodie’s epic finale yet to come. But I promise you, 2023 will be spectacular!”
The team tracks a murderer/con artist on CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted season three episode 21. “Inheritance” is set to air on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT.
The season three cast includes Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott, Alexa Davalos as Special Agent Kristin Gaines, YaYa Gosselin as Natalia “Tali” LaCroix, and Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes. Keisha Castle-Hughes plays Special Agent Hana Gibson and Miguel Gomez is Special Agent Ivan Ortiz.
“Inheritance” Plot: When a wealthy East Hamptons couple are killed by a female con artist posing as a personal trainer, the team works to find out her true identity and track her down. Also, Ortiz is put in a tough place when Hana’s brother asks a favor.
Show of hands…who was shocked to learn the identify of Liz’s killer on NBC’s The Blacklist season nine episode 20? I’m going to assume (which I know is never a wise thing to do) that most The Blacklist fans didn’t see that twist coming. Up next, The Blacklist season nine episode 21 – “Marvin Gerard, Conclusion Part 1” – airing on Friday, May 20, 2022 at 8pm ET/PT.
James Spader leads the cast as Raymond “Red” Reddington. The season nine cast also includes Diego Klattenhoff as Donald Ressler, Amir Arison as Aram Mojtabai, Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma, Laura Sohn as Alina Park, and Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper.
“Marvin Gerard” Plot: Red and the Task Force spring into action after learning who betrayed them.
Season 9 Description, Courtesy of NBC:
“In the two years following the death of Elizabeth Keen, Raymond Reddington (Spader) and the members of the FBI Task Force have disbanded – their lives now changed in unexpected ways and with Reddington’s whereabouts unknown. Finding themselves each at a crossroads, a common purpose compels them to renew their original mission: to take down dangerous, vicious and eccentric Blacklisters. In the process, they begin to uncover lethal adversaries, unimaginable conspiracies and surprising betrayals that will threaten alliances and spur vengeance for the past, led by the most devious criminal of them all – Raymond Reddington.”
James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington and Fisher Stevens as Marvin Gerard in ‘The Blacklist’ season 9 episode 21 (Photo by: Zach Dilgard/NBC)James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington, Diany Rodriguez as Weecha Xiu, and Karina Arroyave as Mierce Xiu in season 9 episode 21 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma in season 9 episode 21 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)Diany Rodriguez as Weecha Xiu in season 9 episode 21 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)Harry Lennix as Harold Cooper in season 9 episode 21 (Photo by: Will Hart /NBC)Jonathan Holtzman as Chuck and James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington (Photo by: Zach Dilgard/NBC)James Spader as Raymond “Red” Reddington in season 9 episode 21 (Photo by: Zach Dilgard/NBC)
Niecy Nash, Nathan Fillion and Jenna Dewan in ‘The Rookie’ season 4 episode 20 (ABC/Raymond Liu)
ABC has given a series order to The Rookie spinoff, The Rookie: Feds, starring Niecy Nash-Betts. Nash-Betts’ character, Simone Clark, was introduced in The Rookie season four over a two-episode arc (episodes 19 and 20). Simone’s described as the oldest rookie in the FBI Academy.
ABC confirmed the series order in a tweet: “This trainee was born to make an impact. The Rookie: Feds is a new drama starring @NiecyNash, coming to ABC. #TheRookieFeds”
In addition to Niecy Nash-Betts, the season one cast features Frankie Faison and Felix Solis.
ABC also gave series orders to Alaska starring Oscar winner Hilary Swank (Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don’t Cry) and Not Dead Yet with Gina Rodriguez (Jane The Virgin).
Alaska was created by writer/director Tom McCarthy (Stillwater, Spotlight) and will star Swank as a reporter who leaves New York behind and joins the staff of an Anchorage, Alaska newspaper. The cast also includes Jeff Perry, Matt Malloy, Meredith Holzman, Grace Dove, Pablo Castelblanco, Ami Park, and Craig Frank.
Gina Rodriguez leads the cast of Not Dead Yet based on Confessions of a 40-something F**k Up by Alexandra Potter. Rodriguez will play Nell Stevens, a newly single woman who enters the workforce after a 10-year absence and lands a job as an obituary writer. The series was created by This Is Us producers David Windsor and Casey Johnson.
“Restarting one’s life is never easy. Gina Rodriguez stars in the new comedy Not Dead Yet, coming to ABC. #NotDeadYet” – @NotDeadYetABC
In other ABC news, the L.A. Law reboot is currently dead in the water. There’s much better news for Big Sky which was renewed for three. A Million Little Things earned a fifth season and Home Economics will return for season three. Additional renewals include The Conners, The Wonder Years, American Idol, America’s Funniest Home Videos, The Bachelor, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, and Shark Tank.
Jessica Sutton, Ashley Nicole Williams and Taylor Hickson in ‘Motherland: Fort Salem’ (Freeform/Jeff Petry)
Freeform’s firmed up their primetime summer lineup which will include new seasons of Motherland: Fort Salem, Good Trouble, and grown-ish. The network will also debut the new comedy series Everything’s Trash starring Phoebe Robinson this summer.
Motherland: Fort Salem‘s third-and final-season premieres on June 21, 2022, at 10pm ET/PT. Good Trouble returns for the second part of season four on July 7 at 10pm ET/PT, and grown-ish‘s fifth season kicks off on July 20 at 10pm ET/PT.
Newcomer Everything’s Trash launches on Wednesday, July 13 at 10pm ET/PT with the release of the first two episodes.
MOTHERLAND: FORT SALEM
The end of season two of Motherland: Fort Salem left Abigail, Tally, Raelle and Scylla fugitives on the run. Now without a military nor a home, they seek protection alongside the Dodger community in the Cession – but laying low and staying out of trouble has never been their strong suit. With witch hunters working against them from inside the White House, our heroes must call upon ancient forces in the final battle for their right to exist.
The series stars Taylor Hickson, Jessica Sutton, Ashley Nicole Williams, Amalia Holm, Demetria McKinney and Lyne Renée. In addition, fan-favorites Sheryl Lee Ralph (as President Wade), Victor Webster (as Blanton Silver), Tony Giroux (as Adil) and Catherine Lough Haggquist (as Petra Bellweather) will be back as recurring cast members.
GOOD TROUBLE
Freeform’s Good Trouble follows the residents of downtown Los Angeles’ The Coterie as they juggle career, love and the 20-something growing pains at a time in your life where your friends are your family.
The series stars Cierra Ramirez, Tommy Martinez, Emma Hunton, Sherry Cola, Zuri Adele, Josh Pence, Priscilla Quintana and Bryan Craig. It is executive produced by Joanna Johnson, Christine Sacani, Greg Gugliotta, Jennifer Lopez, Benny Medina, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas and Cierra Ramirez. Johnson also serves as showrunner.
EVERYTHING’S TRASH
Written, executive produced and starring Phoebe Robinson, Everything’s Trash follows Phoebe, a 30-something outspoken podcast star making her professional mark while living a broke and delightfully messy life in Brooklyn. When her “perfect” older brother launches a political campaign, she’s forced to start her adulting journ-journ. Ugh. Life may be a little boo-boo, but Phoebe, ever the cocoa queen, is still thriving.
The series also stars Jordan Carlos, Toccarra Cash, Nneka Okafor, and Moses Storm.
GROWN-ISH
Emmy-nominated grown-ish, a spinoff of the hit comedy black-ish, returns for its fifth season. On the heels of big sister Zoey’s graduation, Andre Johnson Jr., aka Junior (Marcus Scribner), enrolls at Cal U and embarks on his own journey to being “grown.”
The series stars Yara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner, Trevor Jackson, and Diggy Simmons.
The team encounters a secret organization when they’re called in to investigate what happened to a billionaire’s son on CBS’s FBI: International season one episode 20. Directed by Milan Cheylov from a script by Roxanne Paredes, episode 20 – “Black Penguin” – will air on May 17, 2022 at 9pm ET/PT.
The season one cast includes Luke Kleintank as Special Agent Scott Forrester, Heida Reed as Special Agent Jamie Kellett, Carter Redwood as Special Agent Andre Raines, Vinessa Vidotto as Special Agent Cameron Vo, and Christiane Paul as Europol Agent Katrin Jaeger.
Guest stars include William Ludwig, Matt Corboy, Nicole Forester, and T.J. Ramini.
“Black Penguin” Plot: The Fly Team and Jaeger head to Berlin when the 19-year-old son of an American billionaire is found unresponsive in his apartment. As the team works to determine if foul play was involved, they realize there’s a shadowy group on the case as well.
FBI: International is the third iteration of the successful FBI brand that follows the elite operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s International Fly Team. Headquartered in Budapest, they travel the world with the mission of tracking and neutralizing threats against American citizens wherever they may be, putting their lives on the line to protect the U.S. and its people.
The Fly Team’s Special Agent Scott Forrester, their accomplished and dedicated leader, puts his missions ahead of his personal life and is rarely seen without the team’s “secret weapon” – their trusty Schutzhund dog, Tank. Second in command is Special Agent Jamie Kellett, not afraid to tussle – in an alley or courtroom – and her extensive network of informants is a powerful resource. Special Agent Andre Raines shines in the field and makes good use of his accounting background in tracking criminal enterprises’ moving money; and the group’s newest member is Special Agent Cameron Vo, a competitive West Point grad who excels at interrogation and strategy.
A key part of the mix is the unflappable Europol Agent Katrin Jaeger, a multilinguistic liaison between the FBI Fly Team and each host country they inhabit. Always at the scene where American interests are at risk, FBI: International is a globe-trotting depiction of law enforcement overseas.
