Oscar nominee Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) stars in Amazon Studios’ sci-fi thriller, Encounter, which just released an official teaser trailer. The one-minute trailer introduces Ahmed as a dad who’s forced into confronting a threat that’s teased but left unseen in the new video.
In addition to Riz Ahmed, the cast includes Oscar winner Octavia Spencer (The Help), Rory Cochrane (White Boy Rick), Lucian-River Chauhan (Heartland), and newcomer Aditya Geddada.
Michael Pearce (Beast) directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Barton (The Ritual). Pearce’s behind the scenes team includes cinematographer Benjamin Kracun, editor Maya Maffioli, and production designer Tim Grimes.
Derrin Schlesinger, Piers Vellacott, and Dimitri Doganis produced, with Fred Berger, Kate Churchill, Jenny Hinkey, Daniel Battsek, Ollie Madden, Julia Oh, Zander Levy, and Katherine Butler executive producing.
Encounter screened at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival and is part of the Special Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival running September 9-18. Amazon Studios will release the R-rated thriller in theaters on December 3, 2021 followed by a release on Prime Video on December 10th.
The Plot, Courtesy of Amazon:
A decorated Marine goes on a rescue mission to save his two young sons from a mysterious threat. As their journey takes them in increasingly dangerous directions, the boys will need to leave their childhoods behind.
Mike Flanagan, the creator of The Haunting of Hill House, is ready to serve up more nightmare-inducing content with his new Netflix series Midnight Mass. The intense new trailer introduces the world to the fine folks who live on Crockett Island. And by “fine,” I mean strange and quite possibly insane.
The limited series stars Hamish Linklater, Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, Rahul Abburi, Crystal Balint, Matt Biedel, and Alex Essoe. Annarah Cymone, Annabeth Gish, Rahul Kohli, Kristin Lehman, Robert Longstreet, Igby Rigney, Samantha Sloyan, Henry Thomas, and Michael Trucco also star.
Mike Flanagan directs and serves as executive producer along with Trevor Macy. “I’m just going to admit it… Midnight Mass is my favorite project so far,” said Flanagan in a letter released in August. “As a former altar boy, about to celebrate 3 years of sobriety, it’s not hard to see what makes this so personal. The ideas at the root of this show scare me to my core.
There is darkness at work on Crockett Island. Some of it is supernatural, but the scariest is born of human nature. The darkness that animates this story isn’t hard to see in our own world, unfortunately. But this show is about something else as well… faith itself. One of the great mysteries of human nature. How even in the darkness, in the worst of it, in the absence of light – and hope – we sing. I hope you enjoy our song.”
All seven episodes will premiere on Netflix on September 24, 2021.
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
Midnight Mass tells the tale of a small, isolated island community whose existing divisions are amplified by the return of a disgraced young man (Gilford) and the arrival of a charismatic priest (Linklater). When Father Paul’s appearance on Crockett Island coincides with unexplained and seemingly miraculous events, a renewed religious fervor takes hold of the community – but do these miracles come at a price?
This little island, so sleepy it might be dead. The isolated community on Crockett Island experiences miraculous events – and frightening omens – following the arrival of a charismatic, mysterious young priest.
Apple TV+’s fall 2021 programming lineup will include the premieres of three series just for kids and families. Wolfboy and the Everything Factory will debut on September 24th and Get Rolling With Otis arrives on October 8th. The third new family-friendly series, Puppy Place, is set to premiere on October 15th.
Apple TV+’s announcement of its kid-friendly new fall series was accompanied by the release of the first trailer for Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD, and Bento Box Entertainment’s Wolfboy and the Everything Factory. The announcement also included details on the newest additions to Apple TV+’s kids and family programming.
Wolfboy and the Everything Factory
Inspired by the work of visual artist Toff ‘Wirrow’ Mazery, co-created by Emmy Award winner Edward Jesse (HITRECORD’s “Create Together”), developed by Emmy winner Michael Ryan (All Hail King Julien, Kung Fu Panda) and executive produced by Emmy winner Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Mr. Corman), HITRECORD and FOX Entertainment’s Bento Box Entertainment, the 10-episode animated epic Wolfboy and the Everything Factory follows Wolfboy (voiced by Kassian Akhtar), an imaginative oddball who discovers a strange realm at the centre of the earth where fantastical beings called ‘Sprytes’ create things for the natural world on the surface – clouds, trees, rabbits, dreams, hiccups, memories, time… everything!
With his newfound Spryte friends, Wolfboy learns that not only can he use the creative energy of the Everything Factory to make his wild imagination come to life, but that he is destined to play a central role in an age-old battle between the forces of creation and destruction. Wolfboy soon comes to realize that being different is what makes him special – and that, ultimately, it’s the oddballs and dreamers who change the world.
In addition to young newcomer Akhtar as the titular Wolfboy, the series is voiced by Critics’ Choice Award nominee Archie Yates (Jojo Rabbit), who portrays Sprout, Lilly Williams as Xandra, Cristina Milizia (DC Superhero Girls) as Floof and Gordon-Levitt voicing Professor Luxcraft. The series is peppered with a number of special performances, including Juno Temple (Ted Lasso) and Gordon-Levitt’s former 3rd Rock from the Sun castmate, stage and screen legend John Lithgow.
‘Wolfboy and the Everything Factory’ (Photo Credit: Apple TV+)
Get Rolling With Otis
Based on the Penguin Random House book series by Loren Long, Get Rolling With Otis will premiere globally on Apple TV+ Friday, October 8. This animated adventure series from 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films welcomes young viewers to Long Hill Dairy Farm, home to Otis the Tractor and all his friends. Otis may be little, but he has a big heart. Whenever he sees a friend in need, he hits the brakes, asks how they’re feeling, and rolls into action to help!
The series is executive produced by Vince Commisso, Wendy Harris, author Loren Long, Darragh O’Connell, Angela C. Santomero, and Jane Startz.
Puppy Place
Based on the best-selling books from Scholastic, Puppy Place chronicles the adventures of dog-loving siblings, Charles and Lizzie Peterson, and the puppy pals they foster in search of forever homes.
Premiering on Apple TV+ Friday, October 15, each of the eight live-action episodes tells the story of a puppy who finds his or her way to the Peterson family. Charles (Riley Looc) and Lizzie (Brooklynn MacKinzie), whose different approaches complement, inspire, and occasionally confound one another, do whatever it takes to find a happy, loving home for each and every dog. Discovering what makes each puppy special offers a unique perspective that helps the pair overcome their own individual hurdles.
Country music artist Trace Adkins has signed on to star in Fox’s new midseason drama, Monarch, created by Melissa London Hilfers. The three-time Academy of Country Music Award winner will be joining Golden Globe nominee Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) and Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking) in what’s described as a Country music-driven family drama set to premiere on Sunday, January 30, 2022.
Trace Adkins is playing Roman family patriarch Albie; Susan Sarandon is the family’s matriarch, Dottie Cantrell Roman; and Anna Friel is attached to star as Nicolette “Nicky” Roman.
Melissa London Hilfers is writing and executive producing, with Michael Rauch (Royal Pains) serving as showrunner and executive producer. Gail Berman, Hend Baghdady, and music manager Jason Owen also serve as executive producers. Jason Ensler (The Passage) is on board to direct the first episode.
Fox released the following description of Monarch season one:
“Monarch is a Texas-sized, multi-generational musical drama about America’s first family of country music.
In Monarch, ‘Texas Truthteller’ and reigning King of Country Music ALBIE ROMAN (Adkins), along with his insanely talented, but tough as nails wife, Queen of Country Music DOTTIE CANTRELL ROMAN (Sarandon), 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 (Friel) will stop at nothing to protect her family’s legacy, while ensuring her own quest for stardom.”
Fox’s Fantasy Island season one episode six airs on a special day – Sunday – and features the much-anticipated reunion of Melrose Place stars Laura Leighton, Josie Bissett, and Daphne Zuniga. Episode six, “The Big Five Oh,” will air on Sunday, September 12, 2021 at 8:30pm ET/PT. Episode seven airs in the series’ normal Tuesday, September 14th at 9pm ET/PT.
The cast of the reboot is led by Roselyn Sánchez as Elena Roarke, a descendant of the iconic Mr. Roarke. Kiara Barnes (The Bold and the Beautiful) plays Ruby Akuda and John Gabriel Rodriguez (Rosewood) is Javier.
“The Big Five Oh” Plot: When old friends Nettie, Camille and Margot come to the Island to celebrate their 50th birthdays, their fantasies expose fault lines in their friendship.
Series Description, Courtesy of Fox:
Fantasy Island takes place at a luxury resort, where literally any fantasy requested by guests is fulfilled, although they rarely turn out as expected. Delving into the ‘what if’ questions – both big and small – that keep us awake at night, each episode will tell emotional, provocative stories about people who arrive with dreams and desires and depart enlightened and transformed through the magical realism of Fantasy Island.
Serving as steward of this mysterious island is Elena Roarke (Sanchez), a descendant of the iconic Mr. Roarke. Elena set aside her own ambitions, and even the love of her life, to uphold her family’s legacy. Sophisticated, insightful and always charming, her calm exterior masks the challenges of the responsibilities she has assumed.
Assisting Elena is Ruby Akuda (Barnes), a young woman with an old soul who arrives on Fantasy Island with a terminal illness and is given a new lease on life there; and pilot Javier (Rodriquez), who also is the head of island transportation and a jack of all trades.
Disney+ has launched the official trailer for Lucasfilm’s Halloween treat LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales. The animated Star Wars special is made up of three tales spun by Vaneé (voiced by Tony Hale), a loyal servant to Darth Vader.
The special’s voice cast also includes Jake Green as Poe Dameron, Raphael Alejandro as Dean, Dana Snyder as Graballa the Hutt, Christian Slater as Ren, and Trevor Devall as Emperor Palpatine. Mary Elizabeth McGlynn voices NI-L8 and Matt Sloan is Darth Vader.
Disney+ has set an October 1, 2021 premiere date for the special written by executive producer David Shayne and directed by Ken Cunningham. James Waugh, Josh Rimes, Jacqui Lopez, Jill Wilfert, Keith Malone, Jason Cosler, and Jennifer Twiner McCarron also executive produced, with Daniel Cavey and Dan Langlois producing.
The three “terrifying tales” include:
“The Lost Boy,” the story of how a young Ben Solo first meets Ren.
“The Dueling Monstrosities” which imagines how Darth Maul and General Grievous were reborn.
“The Wookiee’s Paw,” which gives a look at what might have happened if all of Luke Skywalker’s greatest wishes were immediately granted.
LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales Plot:
After the events of The Rise of Skywalker, Poe and BB-8 must make an emergency landing on the volcanic planet Mustafar where they meet the greedy and conniving Graballa the Hutt who has purchased Darth Vader’s castle and is renovating it into the galaxy’s first all-inclusive Sith-inspired luxury hotel. While waiting for his X-wing to be repaired, Poe, BB-8, Graballa, and Dean (a plucky and courageous young boy who works as Graballa’s mechanic) venture deep into the mysterious castle with Vader’s loyal servant, Vaneé.
Along the way, Vaneé shares three creepy stories linked to ancient artifacts and iconic villains from across all eras of Star Wars. As Vaneé spins his tales and lures our heroes deeper into the shadowy underbelly of the castle, a sinister plan emerges. With the help of Dean, Poe and BB-8 will have to face their fears, stop an ancient evil from rising, and escape to make it back to their friends.
Netflix promises its “Netflix and Chills” 2021 lineup will deliver thrills and…well…chills. (I mean, come on, it’s right there in the title.) The ghoulish programming will include frightening new films debuting every Wednesday beginning September 15th and running through October 27th.
2021’s “Netflix and Chills” also includes the debut of the sixth and final season of Lucifer along with season two of Locke & Key and Into the Night as well as season three of You.
Prey – September 10th
On his bachelor party weekend, Roman, his brother Albert and their friends go on a hiking trip into the wild. When the group hear gunshots nearby, they attribute them to hunters in the woods. However, they soon find themselves in a desperate bid for survival when they realize that they have fallen prey to a mysterious shooter.
Nightbooks – September 15th
When Alex (Winslow Fegley), a boy obsessed with scary stories, is imprisoned by an evil witch (Krysten Ritter) in her contemporary New York City apartment, he meets Yasmin (Lidya Jewett), who is also trapped there, and learns he must tell a new scary story every night in order to stay alive.
Intrusion – September 22nd
After a deadly break-in at a couple’s new dream home, the traumatized wife (Freida Pinto) searches for answers — and learns the real danger is just beginning.
No One Gets Out Alive – September 29th
Ambar is an immigrant in search of the American dream, but when she’s forced to take a room in a boarding house, she finds herself in a nightmare she can’t escape.
Into the Night: Season 2 – September 8th
While we leave our Flight 21 passengers at the end of Season 1 having finally found refuge from the sun in an old Soviet military bunker in Bulgaria, unfortunately their respite is cut short when an accident ruins part of their food supply. Suddenly chased back out above ground, they must travel to the Global Seed Vault in Norway as a desperate attempt to secure their survival. But they are not the only ones with that idea… In the name of the greater good, our group will have to split up, play nice with the hosting military crew, and make sacrifices in a race against time.
Lucifer – September 10th
This is it, the final season of Lucifer. For real this time. The devil himself has become God… almost. Why is he hesitating? And as the world starts to unravel without a God, what will he do in response? Join us as we say a bittersweet goodbye to Lucifer, Chloe, Amenadiel, Maze, Linda, Ella and Dan. Bring tissues.
Squid Game – September 17th
A mysterious invitation to join the game is sent to people at risk who are in dire need of money. 456 participants from all walks of life are locked into a secret location where they play games in order to win 45.6 billion won. Every game is a Korean traditional children’s game such as Red Light, Green Light, but the consequence of losing is death. Who will be the winner, and what is the purpose behind this game?
Midnight Mass – September 24th
From The Haunting of Hill House creator Mike Flanagan, Midnight Mass tells the tale of a small, isolated island community whose existing divisions are amplified by the return of a disgraced young man (Zach Gilford) and the arrival of a charismatic priest (Hamish Linklater). When Father Paul’s appearance on Crockett Island coincides with unexplained and seemingly miraculous events, a renewed religious fervor takes hold of the community – but do these miracles come at a price?
The Chestnut Man – September 29th
From the creator of The Killing, The Chestnut Man is set in a quiet suburb of Copenhagen, where the police make a terrible discovery one blustery October morning. A young woman is found brutally murdered in a playground and one of her hands is missing. Next to her lies a small man made of chestnuts. The ambitious young detective Naia Thulin (Danica Curcic) is assigned to the case, along with her new partner, Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard). They soon discover a mysterious piece of evidence on the chestnut man – evidence connecting it to a girl who went missing a year earlier and was presumed dead – the daughter of politician Rosa Hartung (Iben Dorner).
Lucy Fry and Deborah Ryan Popp in ‘Night Teeth’ (Photo Credit: Netflix)
NEW “NETFLIX AND CHILLS” FILMS – OCTOBER 2021:
Escape The Undertaker – October 5th
In this interactive film featuring WWE Superstars, The Undertaker has set a trap for the decorated tag team The New Day at his mansion. What they don’t know: The Undertaker’s mansion is an extreme Haunted House, packed to the brim with supernatural challenges. It’s up to viewers to decide the fate of these three poor souls trying to survive the wrath of The Undertaker.
There’s Someone Inside Your House – October 6th
Makani Young has moved from Hawaii to quiet, small-town Nebraska to live with her grandmother and finish high school, but as the countdown to graduation begins, her classmates are stalked by a killer intent on exposing their darkest secrets to the entire town, terrorizing victims while wearing a life-like mask of their own face. With a mysterious past of her own, Makani and her friends must discover the killer’s identity before they become victims themselves.
Fever Dream – October 13th
A young woman lies dying far from home. A boy sits beside her. She is not his mother. He is not her child. Together, they tell a haunting story of broken souls, an invisible threat, and the power and desperation of family.
Night Teeth – October 20th
A college student moonlighting as a chauffeur picks up two mysterious women for a night of party-hopping across LA. But when he uncovers their bloodthirsty intentions — and their dangerous, shadowy underworld — he must fight to stay alive.
Hypnotic – October 27th
A young woman seeking self-improvement enlists the help of a renowned hypnotist, but after a handful of intense sessions, soon discovers unexpected and deadly consequences.
Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight Part 2 – October TBD Nobody Sleeps In The Woods 2 is a continuation of the first Polish slasher film, based on a screenplay by Mirella Zaradkiewicz and Bartosz M. Kowalski, who also directed the film. The main character of the film is Adaś, a young, lonely, unhappy policeman from a small village in Podlasie. Ignored by his colleagues and beautiful and extremely confident Wanessa, the shy boy is looking for his place in the world. In the sequel, we will also learn more about the fate of Zosia, who will show a completely new and surprising face. The film is a perverse, ironic, grotesque and bloody story about looking for love and discovering one’s own self in a world that divides us more than it unites us. It’s a slasher that will turn genre rules upside down this time.
Scaredy Cats – October 1st
On Willa Ward’s twelfth birthday, she inherits a beautiful charm necklace that belonged to her mother, who was a witch. She soon learns 2 bad witches, Wilma and Wanda are after her locket so they can have ultimate power, and she alongside her best friends Scout and Lily turn into cats to escape. They must learn to use the necklace and her witch powers to defeat the bad witches and save their town.
A Tale Dark & Grimm – October 8th
Based on the best-selling book series by Adam Gidwitz, the animated series follows Hansel and Gretel as they run away from home to find better parents…or at least ones who won’t chop off their heads! As Hansel and Gretel leave their own story and venture through other classic Grimm fairy tales, unexpected narrators’ guide us through their encounters with witches, warlocks, dragons and even the devil himself. As the siblings roam a forest brimming with menacing foes, they learn the true story behind the famous tales, as well as how to take charge of their destinies and create their own happily ever after. Because once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome.
Sharkdog’s Fintastic Halloween – October 15th
The Sharkpack gets ready for Halloween with the spooky legend of the “Fearsome Fog” — and Sharkdog must save trick-or-treating from a slimy sea monster!”
You: Season 3 – October 15th
In Season 3, Joe and Love, now married and raising their baby, have moved to the balmy Northern California enclave of Madre Linda, where they’re surrounded by privileged tech entrepreneurs, judgmental mommy bloggers and Insta-famous biohackers. Joe is committed to his new role as a husband and dad, but fears Love’s lethal impulsiveness. And then there’s his heart. Could the woman he’s been searching for all this time live right next door? Breaking out of a cage in a basement is one thing. But the prison of a picture-perfect marriage to a woman who’s wise to your tricks? Well, that’ll prove a much more complicated escape.
Locke & Key: Season 2 – October TBD
After their father is murdered under mysterious circumstances, the three Locke siblings and their mother move into their ancestral home, Keyhouse, which they discover is full of magical keys that may be connected to their father’s death. As the Locke children explore the different keys and their unique powers, a mysterious demon awakens — and will stop at nothing to steal them.
From Carlton Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel) and Meredith Averill (The Haunting of Hill House), Locke & Key is a coming-of-age mystery about love, loss, and the unshakable bonds that define family.
CBS’s long-running crime drama Blue Bloods returns to the network’s primetime schedule on October 1, 2021 with the season 12 premiere. Directed by David Barrett from a script by Siobhan Byrne O’Connor, season 12 episode one marks the return of Callie Thorne as psychic medium Maggie Gibson.
Tom Selleck leads the cast as Frank Reagan, with Donnie Wahlberg back as Danny Reagan and Bridget Moynahan returning as Erin Reagan. Will Estes plays Jamie Reagan, Len Cariou is Henry Reagan, Sami Gayle is Nicky Reagan-Boyle, Marisa Ramirez is Det. Maria Baez, and Vanessa Ray plays Officer Eddie Janko.
Recurring season 12 cast members include Abigail Hawk, Gregory Jbara, Robert Clohessy, Steven Schirripa, and Andrew Terraciano. Tony Terraciano, Lauren Patten, Rosyln Ruff, Luis Antonio Ramos, Dylan Walsh, and Jennifer Ikeda also recur.
“Hate is Hate” Plot: As Danny consults a psychic to solve the murder of a young boy, Frank is at odds with the mayor over how best to protect the city from an uptick in crime following a high-profile shooting. Also, Erin investigates a decades-old case in which the primary eyewitness to the killing is her boss, D.A. Kimberly Crawford (Roslyn Ruff), who was 13 years old at the time.
The second trailer for The Addams Family 2 finds Wednesday declaring she’s surrounded by idiots as Morticia and Gomez worry about their kids growing up too fast. The solution: force the kids into taking one final family vacation because nothing ever goes wrong on a road trip, right?
Returning voice cast members include Charlize Theron as Morticia, Oscar Isaac as Gomez, Chloë Grace Moretz as Wednesday, and Nick Kroll as Fester. Bette Midler provides the voice of Grandma and Snoop Dogg is It. Bill Hader joins the voice cast as Cyrus and Javon Walton is lending his voice to the youngest Addams family member, Pugsley.
Directors Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon are back at the helm of the sequel, with Vernon also producing along with Danielle Sterling, Gail Berman, and Alison O’Brien. Kevin Miserocchi, Jonathan Glickman, Cassidy Lange, Andrew Mittman, Aaron L. Gilbert, and Jason Cloth serve as executive producers. Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit, Ben Queen, and Susanna Fogel wrote the screenplay based on a story by Hernandez and Samit.
The PG-rated family-friendly comedy opens in theaters and will be available on demand on October 1, 2021.
In this all new movie we find Morticia and Gomez distraught that their children are growing up, skipping family dinners, and totally consumed with “scream time.” To reclaim their bond they decide to cram Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester and the crew into their haunted camper and hit the road for one last miserable family vacation. Their adventure across America takes them out of their element and into hilarious run-ins with their iconic cousin, IT, as well as many new kooky characters.
The full trailer for Netflix’s The Guilty opens with Jake Gyllenhaal as 911 operator Joe Baylor answering a series of calls before finally engaging with one caller who appears to have been abducted. He prompts the caller to continue to act like she’s speaking with her child as he asks yes or no questions in order to pin down what’s happening to this terrified woman on the other end of the line.
After she’s forced to hang up, Joe obsesses over discovering her location and saving her from her abductors.
Netflix’s official description lists only Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal, but the film’s IMDB page lists Ethan Hawke, Paul Dano, Riley Keough, Peter Sarsgaard, and Bill Burr as appearing in the 2021 remake of the 2018 Danish film from writer/director Gustav Möller.
The Guilty marks the second collaboration between filmmaker Antoine Fuqua and Jake Gyllenhaal. (The duo previously worked together on the 2015 boxing drama Southpaw.) Three-time Emmy Award nominee and Writers Guild Award winner Nic Pizzolatto (True Detective) wrote the screenplay. Gyllenhaal, Fuqua, Riva Marker, Kat Samick, Scott Greenberg, Michel Litvak, Gary Michael Walters, David Litvak, Svetlana Metkina, and David Haring serve as producers.
Netflix will debut The Guilty on September 24, 2021 in select theaters followed by an October 1st release on the streaming service.
The Plot, Courtesy of Netflix:
The film takes place over the course of a single morning in a 911 dispatch call center. Call operator Joe Baylor (Gyllenhaal) tries to save a caller in grave danger — but he soon discovers that nothing is as it seems, and facing the truth is the only way out.
