The official trailer for the Apple TV+ comedy series Mr. Corman finds Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing a teacher who has serious doubts about the key decisions he’s made in life. The Apple Original comedy debuts on Friday, August 6, 2021 and follows Gordon-Levitt as the titular character attempting to figure out his path forward.
Joining Joseph Gordon-Levitt in season one are Arturo Castro, Debra Winger, Bobby Hall aka Logic, Alexander Jo, Juno Temple, Jamie Chung, Shannon Woodward, and Hector Hernandez.
Gordon-Levitt created the series, stars, directs, and executive produces. Bruce Eric Kaplan, Ravi Nandan, and Inman Young also executive produce, with Pamela Harvey-White producing. The comedy was produced for Apple TV+ by A24.
Season one consists of 10 episodes, with episodes one and two arriving on August 6th. New episodes follow on subsequent Fridays.
The Plot, Courtesy of Apple TV+:
Mr. Corman follows the days and nights of Josh Corman Gordon-Levitt), an artist at heart but not by trade. A career in music hasn’t panned out, and he teaches fifth grade at a public school in the San Fernando Valley. His ex-fiancé Megan has moved out, and his high school buddy Victor has moved in. He knows he has a lot to be thankful for, but finds himself struggling nevertheless through anxiety, loneliness, and a sinking suspicion that he sucks as a person.
Darkly funny, oddly beautiful, and deeply heartfelt, this relatable dramedy speaks for our contemporary generation of 30-somethings: rich with good intentions, poor with student loans, and yearning to become real grown-ups sometime before they die.
Bugs Bunny, Don Cheadle, Cedric Joe, LeBron James, and Lola Bunny at the red carpet premiere of ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ (Photo by Eric Charbonneau / Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)
As a fan of 1996’s Space Jam – the live-action/cartoon mash-up starring NBA legend Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny – Oscar nominee Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda) jumped at the chance to star in the sequel, Space Jam: A New Legacy.
“I liked the original. It was very entertaining. I’m a huge fan of Michael Jordan and love the Looney Tunes characters,” said Cheadle.
A native of Kansas City, MO, Cheadle is an alumnus of the California Institute of Arts in Santa Clarita, CA. He starred alongside Oscar winner Denzel Washington (Fences) in 1995’s Devil in a Blue Dress as Mouse, for which he received critical praise. He won a Golden Globe for playing Sammy Davis, Jr. in 1998’s The Rat Pack, as well as a Golden Globe for the TV series House of Lies. Cheadle is best known for playing Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes, alias War Machine, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies.
“I’m just glad to be employed,” he said, laughing. “It’s been a lot of fun to play a bunch of different characters in such a short time span. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do as an actor. I’m having that opportunity, and that’s great.”
Space Jam: A New Legacy
In New Legacy – opening Friday, July 16 – NBA legend LeBron James plays a fictionalized version of himself. He and his son Dom (newcomer Cedric Joe) find themselves trapped in the Warner 3000 Server-Verse, a virtual space ruled by a tyrannical A.I. called Al G. Rhythm (Cheadle), whose name is a pun of “algorithm.” James joins forces with Bugs, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, and the rest of the Looney Tunes characters in a basketball game against Rhythm’s Goon Squad, a team of powered-up virtual avatars of other NBA stars.
“It was fun to come back in this iteration with LeBron and to work with newer toys, new ideas, and new concepts,” said Cheadle. “The concept is really interesting, all these elements coming together. I mean, come on, there’s family, there’s basketball, there’s all the Warner Bros. (intellectual property) – there’s this spectacular world to behold. And inside of that, there’s real characters that are hitting real human emotional beats. I thought it would be pretty fun to be a part of all that.”
While the final product looks phenomenal as flesh-and-blood people interact with cartoons, filming such a movie has its share of challenges. However, Cheadle was up for them.
“A lot of imagination is involved,” he said. “Sometimes you’re looking at cardboard cut-outs and sometimes you’re just looking into space and hearing people say lines and reacting to that. All of acting is imagination to some degree. Some of it is just more tricky because of the technical aspect you’re trying to do. You get to see pre-viz – which is pre-visualization – and get an idea of what it is you’re supposed to be doing. That’s cool.”
New Legacy producer Ryan Coogler (director/co-writer of 2018’s Black Panther) wanted Cheadle to play Rhythm. In fact, he offered Cheadle the role before the screenplay had been completed.
“We’re really excited about Al G. Rhythm,” said Coogler. “We can’t wait for the world to meet this character who we’ve been seeing Don Cheadle bring to life up close and personal. He’s a guy who’s been designed to determine what products should get made when it comes to entertainment at Warner Bros. He’s off-the-charts intelligent. And then you have Don, who’s one of the most talented actors of our generation.”
New Legacy isn’t the only movie Cheadle’s appearing in this month. He plays the lead character – a small-time hood named Curt Goynes – in No Sudden Move, a crime drama set in Detroit (where it was also filmed during the Coronavirus pandemic) circa 1954. Written by Ed Solomon (the Bill & Ted trilogy) and directed by Oscar nominee Steven Soderbergh (the Ocean’s franchise), No Sudden Move also stars David Harbour (Black Widow), Oscar nominee Benicio del Toro (Traffic), Golden Globe nominee Kieran Culkin (Succession), Golden Globe winner Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Ray Liotta (GoodFellas), Brendan Fraser (Trust), and Oscar winner Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting). Detroit is also a character in its own right and plays a strong supporting role, according to Solomon.
“Don Cheadle plays Goynes. Benicio plays Russo, Liotta plays Frank Capelli. They’re playing these parts and Detroit is in the film too as a character,” said Solomon. “Detroit shows up as a character in the film and is playing itself at a different time… It’s an unbilled character, but it is a character. You can’t have this film be what it is without Detroit playing itself.”
Cheadle agreed.
“Detroit is a character in this movie as much as the actual living human beings in the movie,” he said. “You can really look at the environment and understand why this movie would not work anywhere else. Detroit is so well-preserved. The architecture and the structure of the city makes it easy to say, ‘This is 1954’ … The architecture is still there, which is fantastic. Obviously, the tons of cars we used were right there; we didn’t have to bring any of those in because they all exist there. You can really look at the environment and understand why this movie would not work anywhere else.”
No Sudden Move begins with Goynes, who’s just out of prison and in need of money, getting roped into a scheme by a go-between named Jones (Fraser) to “babysit” auto exec Matt Wertz’s (Harbour) family with Russo, while Charley (Culkin) takes Matt to his office to retrieve top-secret documents. However, the plans aren’t there, and the babysitting job goes sideways. Goynes won’t let Charley murder Wertz and his family, killing him instead. Soon thereafter, Detroit’s criminal elite and corporate titans come after Goynes in a deadly game of double-cross and triple-cross.
“Without being too much of a fanboy, I have been an admirer of Don for so long. I’ll be honest: I never thought I’d have a chance to work with him. I was quite intimidated turning the script over,” said Solomon. “When I met him for the first time, which was on-set, I got very emotional – ‘It’s so amazing, Don. I’ve had a relationship with you for the last 1-2 years that you haven’t had, but we share this character. I’m passing the mantle to you…’ He couldn’t be kinder about it and was really gracious. He’s such a good guy. I like him a lot.”
Solomon continued: “Watching Don say those words… he made the script better. Running the script through… (the cast’s) genius, their brilliance, their aesthetic taught me more about writing. When you have actors that good questioning your work as well as manifesting it, you can’t help but come out the other end a better writer. When you have actors that good saying the words, the script just seems that much better. Every moment watching them, I had to stop myself and say, ‘Pay attention, airhead, this doesn’t happen all the time, getting to watch artists like this realize something in front of you.’ I never stopped thinking how fortunate I was.”
David Harbour, Don Cheadle, director Steven Soderbergh (masked), and Benicio del Toro on the set of ‘No Sudden Move,’ which was filmed in Detroit during the COVID-19 pandemic (Photo by Claudette Barius)
Working with Steven Soderbergh
No Sudden Move was one of the first films to resume production during the pandemic, which was daunting at the beginning, according to Cheadle. Soderbergh paid for two mobile COVID-19 testing units out of his own pocket because he didn’t want to take resources away from the citizens of Detroit. At the end of production, he donated them to Wayne State University for their mobile-health outreach program.
“We never got shut down and worked straight through, which is a blessing and…a testament to the people that Steven, (producer) Casey Silver, and Warner Bros. put around us to protect us,” said Cheadle.
No Sudden Move marks Cheadle’s sixth collaboration with Soderbergh. They worked together on 1998’s Out of Sight, 2000’s Traffic, 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven, 2004’s Ocean’s Twelve, and 2007’s Ocean’s Thirteen. (Cheadle stated there are currently no plans for another Ocean’s sequel.)
“It was an opportunity to revisit not totally dissimilar material than a movie like Out of Sight as far as it being a tight thriller,” said Cheadle. “(Soderbergh and I) have a very good shorthand and we’re real simpatico when it comes to the kinds of stories we like to tell. It’s always good to return to someone who’s definitely gifted behind the camera and really gets this kind of material.”
Working with Soderbergh is a high point in Solomon’s career.
“I do not say this lightly: He’s a truly brilliant mind and you could not ask for a better steward of your material because in a certain way he’s this amazing combination of confidence and egoless-ness,” said Solomon. “Steven says his role is to bring out the best in you as an artist and the best in the film – whatever it’s trying to be – (and keep that) separate from him. A lot of filmmakers put their ego in front of them, but Steven isn’t that way… As a writer, you couldn’t have asked for a better or smarter collaborator.”
Soderbergh was one of the reasons Cheadle chose this role.
“The auspices of creating it, to work with Steven again, to work with Benicio and actually have scenes with him for the first time – we were in Traffic but never got to work with one another, so this was an opportunity to do that – as well as the rest of the cast, the story, the historical aspect of what we were doing,” explained Cheadle. “The fact that we were going to be folding some really good, interesting, relevant information about not only the city but the country writ large inside this gangster noir thriller. Everything was a yes.”
Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and War Machine (Don Cheadle) fight side-by-side in ‘Iron Man 2’ (Photo Courtesy of Marvel Studios)
Playing a Superhero
For more than 11 years, Cheadle has played War Machine. In the comics published by Marvel, Rhodey is a former soldier, as well as the personal pilot and right-hand man of corporate tycoon/billionaire playboy Tony Stark, alias Iron Man. When Stark is incapacitated by alcohol, Rhodey becomes the second Iron Man and even joins the Avengers, the team of superheroes Stark founded and financed. Once Stark sobered up, he resumed the mantle of Iron Man. Eventually, Rhodey adopts his own superhero identity as War Machine.
Cheadle debuted as War Machine in 2010’s Iron Man 2. He also played him in 2013’s Iron Man 3, 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. He made a cameo in 2019’s Captain Marvel and earlier this year in the Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. He’s slated to reprise this role in the upcoming Disney+ series, Armor Wars. However, he couldn’t talk about the latter project.
“What attracted me to the part was the part,” said Cheadle, laughing. “It’s a lot of fun to be part of those big, fantastical escapist kind of movies. I was a fan of them as a kid and continue to be a fan of them as an adult. Also, I get to work with some cool actors, cool people, and exciting storylines that are – although they don’t have to be – pretty nuanced.”
Initially, War Machine was played by Oscar nominee Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow) in 2008’s Iron Man, starring Oscar nominee Robert Downey Jr. (Chaplin, Tropic Thunder) as the titular character. In fact, Howard was also the highest-paid star in the MCU’s inaugural film, earning $3.5 million, compared to Downey’s $500,000 (with his history of legal and drug problems, Downey was still considered a risk at the time he was cast).
After Iron Man’s box office success to the tune of $585.5 million, Downey’s salary increased exponentially for the subsequent movies. Howard stated in interviews his salary would’ve been decreased exponentially by 50-80 percent for the sequel. In the end, it’s unclear if Howard quit or if Marvel fired him over this salary dispute. What is not unclear is War Machine was recast in Iron Man 2 with Cheadle.
“In my own opinion, I didn’t replace Terrence Howard,” said Cheadle. “He was not in the movie when I was offered the movie. (His departure) had already happened, so I didn’t move him out of a job. I wouldn’t have done it.”
Activist and Author
In addition to being an actor, Cheadle is also an activist and an author. With John Prendergast, he co-authored the books, Not On Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond and The Enough Moment: Fighting to End Africa’s Worst Human Rights Crimes. Alongside his Ocean’s co-stars Damon, George Clooney, and Brad Pitt, Ocean’s producer Jerry Weintraub, and former Ambassador David Pressman, Cheadle co-founded the Not On Our Watch Project, an international relief and humanitarian aid organization.
In 2007, Cheadle was awarded the BET Humanitarian Award of the Year for his humanitarian work for the people of Darfur and Rwanda. Also in 2007, Cheadle and Clooney were given the Summit Peace Award by the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in Rome for their work to stop the genocide in Darfur. Additionally, Cheadle is on the Advisory Board of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
When asked if he considered himself a role model, Cheadle wasn’t comfortable with that question.
“I think that’s a question better suited for people, not me,” he said. “I’m a role model, yes, but how does that even sound coming out of my mouth? That’s ridiculous. I don’t know what I am to people, and I don’t know what kind of role model, unless to say I’m supposed to live a life that comports to with what people would point to being honorable or something.”
Cheadle continued: “I just try to use what I have, whatever you want to call it – celebrity, attention, the ability to pull focus and lend support and point to other people who don’t have the ability to do that. Other organizations and people who’ve been working to deal with injustice and find ways to move everyone move towards equality. That’s what I try to do: Work with people who’ve already been doing that for a long time. If my celebrity allows that to be done more effectively, then that’s great. I leave it up to other people to determine what they want to say as a result.”
HBO just unveiled the first teaser trailer for the upcoming limited series, Scenes from a Marriage. The limited series is based on Ingmar Bergman’s 1973 Swedish miniseries and stars Critics Choice Awards nominee Oscar Isaac (Show Me a Hero) and two-time Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, The Help) as a married couple working their way through problems in their relationship.
Hagai Levi (HBO’s In Treatment) developed the limited series and serves as writer and director. Levi also executive produces along with Isaac, Chastain, Amy Herzog, Michael Ellenberg, Lars Blomgren, Daniel Bergman, and Blair Breard. The limited series was produced by Media Res and Endeavor for HBO.
Scenes from a Marriage will premiere this September on HBO.
HBO released the following brief description of the plot:
“Scenes from a Marriage re-examines the original’s iconic depiction of love, hatred, desire, monogamy, marriage and divorce through the lens of a contemporary American couple, played by Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain.”
Oscar Isaac was recently seen starring in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, Life Itself, and Annihilation. He’ll soon be seen playing Duke Leto Atreides in the epic sci-fi action thriller, Dune, starring Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya.
Jessica Chastain’s credits include It Chapter 2, Molly’s Game, Dark Phoenix, and Miss Sloane. Chastain recently wrapped up work on The Eyes of Tammy Faye in which she stars as Tammy Faye Bakker opposite Andrew Garfield as Jim Bakker.
Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain in ‘Scenes from a Marriage’ (Photo credit: Jojo Whilden/HBO)
The first full-length trailer for FX on Hulu’s American Horror Stories has arrived and it’s as weirdly wonderful as anticipated. The new horror anthology series comes from the twisted minds behind American Horror Story and will feature a different horror story in each of its season one episodes.
The new anthology will kick off with the premiere of episodes one and two on July 15, 2021.
The cast includes Matt Bomer as Michael, Gavin Creel as Troy, Sierra McCormick as Scarlett, Ashley Martin Carter as Rowena, Billie Lourd as Liv Whitley, Aaron Tveit as Adam, and Paris Jackson as Maya. Belissa Escobedo plays Shanti, Kaia Gerber is Ruby, Rhenzy Feliz plays Chad, Madison Bailey is Kelley, Virginia Gardner is Bernadette, and Kyle Red Silverstein is Quinn.
Season one also features Amy Grabow as Tipper Gore, John Carroll Lynch as Larry Bitterman, Naomi Grossman as Rabid Ruth, Dyllon Burnside as James, Nico Greetham as Zinn, Charles Melton as Wyatt, Kevin McHale as Barry, and Danny Trejo as Santa.
American Horror Story creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk executive produce along with Alexis Martin Woodall, John J. Gray, and Manny Coto. The AHS franchise is a Twentieth Television production.
Poster for ‘American Horror Stories’ (Photo Credit: FX)
Paramount+ has confirmed Evil will be back for a third season, announcing today the series’ renewal just three episodes into the second season’s debut on the subscription streaming service. Season two premiered on June 20, 2021 and has become one of Paramount+’s top acquisition drivers.
The first season of the crime drama aired on CBS and is currently available to stream on Paramount+. The streaming service reports Evil season two has gained viewers compared to season one.
Katja Herbers and Mike Colter return to lead the season two cast as Kristen Bouchard and David Acosta, respectively. Aasif Mandvi reprises his role as Ben Shakir, Michael Emerson plays Leland Townsend, Christine Lahti is Sheryl, and Kurt Fuller is Dr. Boggs. Brooklyn Shuck stars as Lynn Bouchard, Skylar Gray is Lila Bouchard, Maddy Crocco is Lexis Bouchard, and Dalya Knapp plays Laura Bouchard.
Season two consists of 13 episodes, with new episodes dropping on Sundays.
Robert King, Michelle King, Liz Glotzer, Rockne S. O’Bannon, and Nelson McCormick executive produce. Evil‘s produced by CBS Studios in association with King Size Productions.
The Plot, Courtesy of Paramount+:
Evil is a psychological mystery that examines the origins of evil along the dividing line between science and religion. The series focuses on a skeptical female psychologist who joins a priest-in-training and a contractor as they investigate the church’s backlog of unexplained mysteries, including supposed miracles, demonic possessions, and hauntings. Their job is to assess if there is a logical explanation or if something truly supernatural is at work.
The second season brings evil closer to home. Kristen struggles with her darker nature, while David suffers temptation as he gets closer to his ordination. Meanwhile, Ben is visited by night terrors that prey on his greatest fears.
K-pop stars BTS just released a 33 second teaser promoting the music video for their new song “Permission to Dance.” The Grammy-nominated band is expected to release the new single as part of the “Butter” CD dropping on Friday, July 9, 2021.
BTS unveiled the “Butter” CD single tracklist last week, confirming their summer hit will be accompanied by “Permission to Dance.” Described as a track to get your body moving, “Permission to Dance” was co-written by four-time Grammy winner Ed Sheeran, Steve Mac, Johnny McDaid, and Jenna Andrews, with Mac, Andrews, and Stephen Kirk producing.
BTS and Sheeran previously collaborated on the group’s “Make It Right” off of their Map of the Soul: Persona album.
The supergroup’s expected to perform both “Butter” and “Permission to Dance” during their appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon set for July 13th and 14th.
The group’s popular summer tune, “Butter,” continues to reign supreme on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, grabbing the top spot for six consecutive weeks. According to MRC Data, “Butter” amassed 28.3 million radio airplay audience impressions, up by 2%. The English-language single is now BTS’ longest-reigning number one song to date.
BTS (Photo Courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment)
BTS recently wrapped up their popular fan festival, the 2021 MUSTER SOWOOZOO, with this year’s event amassing 1.33 million viewers across 195 countries/regions during its two days. The 2021 event was in celebration of their 8th anniversary and found the group hosting the two-day live-streamed fan meet June 13th and 14th. The festive event saw the band perform 15 songs on an outdoor stage. The venue embraced the “adventure” theme, complete with various planet installations and an entire stage in the form of the number ‘8’ representing both their 8th year together as a group and the infinity sign.
Among the hits performed were “Life Goes On,” “Butter,” “Dynamite,” “Stay,” and “Fly to My Room.” Viewers also were treated to special performances of SUGA (Agust D)’s “Daechwita” and j-hope’s “Chicken Noodle Soup” featuring all seven members.
The venue installed a big screen below the stage that showed ARMY all over the world enjoying the show. Pre-recorded cheers by ARMY were also played alongside performances of “Dis-ease,” “FIRE,” and “So What.”
Back in April 2021 it was announced BTS would become world ambassadors for Louis Vuitton. “BTS for Louis Vuitton. Joining as new House Ambassadors, the world-renowned Pop Icons are recognized for their uplifting messages that impart a positive influence,” tweeted the luxury brand’s official account. “Louis Vuitton is pleased to welcome members RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook.”
On Wednesday, July 7th, the septet appeared in the Men’s Fall-Winter 2021 Fashion Show in Seoul, South Korea, where they showcased the designs of Virgil Abloh, the artistic director of Louis Vuitton menswear. BTS modeled the looks in a “moving-image performance.” The digital fashion video directed by Jeon Go-woon “stages a conversation between space, movement, and global connectivity central to our moment in time, and explores the city of Seoul through the lens of diversity,” per the show notes.
Sir Paul McCartney looks back on his time with The Beatles and shares memories from his five decade career in Hulu’s upcoming documentary series, McCartney 3,2,1. The six-part docuseries features the legendary musician taking part in revealing talks with producer Rick Rubin.
Oscar nominee Zachary Heinzerling (Cutie and the Boxer) directs and McCartney, Rubin, Scott Rodger, Peter Berg, Matthew Goldberg, Brandon Carroll, Jeff Pollack, Frank Marshall, and Ryan Suffern executive produce. The docuseries was produced by Endeavor Content, MPL Communications Inc., Shangri-La, Film 45, Kennedy Marshall, and Diamond Docs.
Hulu has set a July 16, 2021 premiere date.
The Details, Courtesy of Hulu:
Paul McCartney sits down for a rare, in-depth, one on one with legendary producer Rick Rubin to discuss his groundbreaking work with The Beatles, the emblematic 70s arena-rock of Wings and his 50 years and counting as a solo artist. In this six-episode series that explores music and creativity in a unique and revelatory manner, join Paul and Rick for an intimate conversation about the songwriting, influences, and personal relationships that informed the iconic songs that have served as the soundtracks of our lives.
Melissa McBride as Carol Peletier, Angel Theory as Kelly, and Nadia Hilker as Magna in ‘The Walking Dead’ season 11 (Photo Credit: Josh Stringer/AMC)
AMC Networks is hosting panels in support of The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, and The Walking Dead: World Beyond during this year’s virtual version of the San Diego Comic-Con. Ultra City Smiths, Doctor Who, and Creepshow will also be represented during Comic-Con@Home as well as anthologies Slasher: Flesh & Blood, Horror Noire, and V/H/S/94.
The online version of the San Diego Comic-Con will kick off on Friday, July 23rd and finish up on Sunday, July 25th.
Comic-Con@Home Panel Details, Courtesy of AMC Networks:
V/H/S/94 – Panel Time: Friday, July 23 at 1:00 PM PT
The Shudder Original Film V/H/S/94 marks the return of the infamous “found footage” anthology. Moderated by Richard Newby of Fangoria and The Hollywood Reporter, the panel will feature co-creator Brad Miska, producer Josh Goldbloom and segment directors Simon Barrett, Timo Tjahjanto, Jennifer Reeder, Ryan Prows and Chloe Okuno.
The fourth installment in the hit horror V/H/S anthology franchise, V/H/S/94 debuts this fall on SHUDDER. In V/H/S/94, after the discovery of a mysterious VHS tape, a brutish police swat team launch a high-intensity raid on a remote warehouse, only to discover a sinister cult compound whose collection of pre-recorded material uncovers a nightmarish conspiracy.
SLASHER: FLESH & BLOOD – Panel Time: Friday, July 23 at 6:00 PM PT
Shudder presents the original horror anthology event series, Slasher: Flesh & Blood with a panel moderated by Bloody Disgusting’s Meagan Navarro, and featuring stars David Cronenberg, Paula Brancati, Rachael Crawford, showrunner Ian Carpenter, and Slasher creator Aaron Martin. The panel will also debut a first look trailer.
Slasher: Flesh & Blood follows a wealthy but dysfunctional family that gathers for a reunion on a secluded island only to learn they’ll be pitted against one another in a cruel game of life and death, all while being stalked by a mysterious masked killer. Nothing is what it seems, and no one is safe as the tension- and the body count- ratchets up.
As with the past installments of the series, Slasher: Flesh & Blood will combine elements of traditional murder mystery with the intense horror and bold kills that audiences have come to expect.
ULTRA CITY SMITHS – Panel Time: Saturday, July 24 at 11:00 AM PT
Streaming on AMC+ beginning July 22, Ultra City Smiths’ story unfolds via the stop-motion animation of baby dolls repurposed as a grown-up cast of characters. Moderated by Entertainment Weekly’s Kristen Baldwin, series creator, writer, co-director and showrunner Steve Conrad and co-director David Brooks will be joined by cast members Jimmi Simpson, Debra Winger, Luis Guzmán, Hana Mae Lee, Tim Heidecker, and Chris Conrad.
The series hinges on an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of fictional metropolis Ultra City’s most famous magnate. Two intrepid detectives follow the case, rallying to fight against their city’s dangerous corruption, at a high cost to themselves and their families, all in pursuit of a gentler place to call home.
FEAR THE WALKING DEAD – Panel Time: Saturday, July 24 at 1:00 PM PT Fear the Walking Dead will present a panel for the series’ upcoming seventh season, premiering later this year. Moderated by Chris Hardwick (Talking Dead), the panel will feature chief content officer of The Walking Dead Universe, Scott M. Gimple, showrunners and executive producers Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg, and cast members Lennie James, Alycia Debnam- Carey, Colman Domingo, Danay Garcia, Jenna Elfman, Karen David, Mo Collins, and Christine Evangelista. The panel will feature an exclusive first look at the new season.
At the end of last season, Teddy (John Glover) brought about his vision of “The End” when he detonated nuclear warheads across the Texas landscape. In the series’ new season, it will be up to those who survived to decide what “The Beginning” will look like. And they’ll have to do it in a world devoid of light and hope, where the outside air is just as deadly as the walkers they face. The survivors will find out who they really are and what they’re really made of. Some will rise to the occasion, some will find new purpose, and some will redefine themselves — even if it comes at a terrible cost to those they once considered family.
THE WALKING DEAD: WORLD BEYOND – Panel Time: Saturday, July 24 at 2:00 PM PT
The third series in the wildly successful The Walking Dead Universe, The Walking Dead: World Beyond returns to Comic-Con@Home to discuss the upcoming second season and share an exclusive first look, with a panel moderated by Chris Hardwick (Talking Dead), featuring chief content officer of The Walking Dead Universe, Scott M. Gimple, showrunner and executive producer Matt Negrete, and cast members Aliyah Royale, Alexa Mansour, Nicolas Cantu, Hal Cumpston, Nico Tortorella, Annet Mahendru, Julia Ormond, Jelani Alladin, and Joe Holt.
Season two of The Walking Dead: World Beyond concludes the epic story of Iris (Royale), Hope (Mansour), Elton (Cantu), and Silas (Cumpston) — four friends who journeyed across the country on a mission that transformed everything they knew about themselves and the world. As they face off against the mysterious Civic Republic Military and fight for control of their own destiny, goals will shift, bonds will form and crumble, and innocence will be both lost and found.
THE WALKING DEAD – Panel Time: Saturday, July 24 at 3:00 PM PT The Walking Dead panel will spotlight the 11th season, debuting August 22 on AMC, with the first installment of eight episodes kicking off the series’ massive 24-episode final season. Moderated by Chris Hardwick (Talking Dead), the panel will feature chief content officer of The Walking Dead Universe, Scott M. Gimple, showrunner and executive Producer Angela Kang, and cast members Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, Khary Payton, Christian Serratos, Josh McDermitt, Eleanor Matsuura, and Michael James Shaw as they answer fan questions, tease what’s coming next for some of our favorite characters, share behind-the-scenes stories about filming the final season, and reveal the highly anticipated trailer for season 11.
In the series’ new season, the carnage and devastation of the Whisperer War has left Alexandria a former shell of the home it once was, and its residents are struggling to refortify its walls and feed its increased population as survivors from the Kingdom and the Hilltop join their ranks. Meanwhile, part of the group is being held captive by mysterious soldiers who are members of a larger and unforthcoming group.
HORROR NOIRE – Panel Time: Saturday, July 24 at 4:00 PM PT
A new Shudder original anthology, Horror Noire makes its Comic-Con debut with a panel moderated by writer/editor/speaker Ashley C. Ford, and featuring anthology writers Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, Victor LaValle, and Shernold Edwards as they share the inspiration behind their adapted stories, discuss how they go about adapting them for different formats, and delve into why now is an important time to tell these stories.
Horror Noire is a follow-up to the critically acclaimed 2019 documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror and features new work from both established and emerging talents, showcasing stories of Black horror from Black directors and screenwriters.
CREEPSHOW – Panel Time: Saturday, July 24 at 6:00 PM PT Creepshow returns to Comic-Con to discuss the upcoming third season of the Shudder Original series. Moderated by Entertainment Weekly’s Clark Collis, the panel will feature showrunner and executive producer Greg Nicotero, director Rusty Cundieff, writer Mattie Do, and cast members Michael Rooker and James Remar as they chat about the series’ newest monsters and what it takes to bring these creatures to life, while offering insight into which stories they’ll be adapting and paying homage to next. They will also share an exclusive first look at season three, coming to Shudder this fall.
Creepshow, the anthology series based on the 1982 horror comedy classic, is still the most fun you’ll ever have being scared! A comic book comes to life in a series of vignettes, exploring terrors ranging from murder, creatures, monsters, and delusions to the supernatural and unexplainable. You never know what will be on the next page…
DOCTOR WHO – Panel Time: Sunday, July 25 at 10:00 AM PT
Moderated by Salon.com’s Melanie McFarland, the panel will feature showrunner Chris Chibnall, the Thirteenth Doctor – Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, new Doctor Who cast member, John Bishop and a very special surprise guest as they share exclusive content from Doctor Who. Pre-recorded panel presented by the BBC and BBC AMERICA
Lionsgate’s new two minute behind the scenes video from American Underdog features the film’s star Zachary Levi discussing ex-NFL quarterback Kurt Warner. Levi, who plays Warner in the feature film, says that when he was a kid everyone knew Warner’s story. Warner went from supermarket clerk to arena football to starting QB for the Rams to Super Bowl hero, and the film charts his rise from everyman to superstar.
“I’ve had so many people tell me your story is made for Hollywood. It’s made for the big screen,” says Kurt Warner, an executive producer on the film and first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.
Anna Paquin who plays Kurt Warner’s wife, Brenda, believes Kurt’s story is one of hope. “He’s come from nothing. He’s tried…he’s failed…he’s picked himself back up again. And then eventually he actually does succeed at getting his dream,” explains Paquin.
Brenda Warner is also involved in American Underdog as an executive producer. Brenda, who believes her husband has remained grounded throughout his journey, had this to say about the film: “It’s about relationships. It’s about real life. He is a champion but he was the same person before all this happened.”
In addition to Zachary Levi (Shazam!) and Anna Paquin (True Blood), the American Underdog cast features Dennis Quaid as Coach Dick Vermeil.
Lionsgate’s peek behind the scenes was accompanied by the first batch of official photos.
American Underdog will open in theaters on December 10, 2021.
The Plot, Courtesy of Lionsgate:
American Underdog chronicles the incredible true story of Kurt Warner (Levi), who went from stocking shelves at a supermarket to become a two-time NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion, and Hall of Fame quarterback. The film chronicles Warner’s unique story and years of challenges and setbacks that could have derailed his aspirations to become an NFL player, and when his dreams seemed all but out of reach, it is only with the support of his wife, Brenda (Paquin) and the encouragement of his family that Warner perseveres and finds the strength to show the world the champion that he already is inside.
American Underdog is an inspirational story that demonstrates that anything is possible when you have faith, family and determination.
Zachary Levi as Kurt Warner in ‘American Underdog’ (Photo Credit: Michael Kubeisy / Lionsgate)Zachary Levi as Kurt Warner (Photo Credit: Michael Kubeisy / Lionsgate)Zachary Levi as Kurt Warner and Dennis Quaid as Dick Vermeil (Photo Credit: Michael Kubeisy / Lionsgate)Zachary Levi as Kurt Warner and Anna Paquin as Brenda Warner (Photo Credit: Michael Kubeisy / Lionsgate)Zachary Levi as Kurt Warner and Kurt Warner on the set of ‘American Underdog’ (Photo Credit: Michael Kubeisy / Lionsgate)
United Artists and MGM just released a new trailer for the animated sequel, The Addams Family 2, which finds the creepy and kooky family hitting the road for a family vacation. The two minute trailer promises this new adventure will take the Addams where no Addams has ever gone before.
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 and Alison O’Brien. Kevin Miserocchi, Jonathan Glickman, Cassidy Lange, Aaron L. Gilbert, and Jason Cloth serve as executive producers.
The Addams Family 2 opens in theaters on October 1, 2021.
The Plot, Courtesy of MGM:
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.
