TV & movies

The latest news and reviews of TV shows and movies.

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Simpsons World shuts down as episodes move to Disney+
You knew Simpsons World wouldn't last much longer when Disney+ claimed The Simpsons as a streaming exclusive, but you might not have expected the end to be so... abrupt. Simpsons World has promptly shut down, making Disney+ the only place to watch every episode even though it's barely available to the public. While that makes the show accessible to people without cable subscriptions (and outside of the US), it also pushes cable TV subscribers to pay extra if they want to witness Lisa's perpetual motion machine or Homer's near-death experience.
Redbox will stop selling Disney movie codes as part of settlement
Disney's lawsuit against Redbox is over, and it's not great news for Redbox. The two sides have agreed to a settlement that will have Redbox stop the sale of movie download codes from Disney disc packs. Attorneys for Disney had accused Redbox of violating copyright by offering the codes separately from the discs that went into rental kiosks. Redbox had accused Disney of anti-competitive behavior and succeeded in thwarting a preliminary injunction that would have blocked sales, but its defense fell apart after Disney reworked the disc packs' terms to make code access contingent on how you bought the movies rather than physical ownership.
Apple TV+ snags Gary Oldman for spy drama 'Slow Horses'
Apple TV+ has only just rolled out and it's already nabbed one of the biggest names in showbiz. Acting legend Gary Oldman is set to star in spy drama Slow Horses, an adaptation of Mick Herron's Slough House books, according to Variety.
Mark Wahlberg is poised to join the 'Uncharted' movie
The cast for the Uncharted movie appears to be solidifying, however slowly. Variety understands that Mark Wahlberg is in "final talks" to co-star as Victor "Sully" Sullivan, the grizzled treasure hunter that serves as Nathan Drake's mentor. It'll represent a bit of a shock for people who expect a decidedly older and more gregarious character, but the current take on the movie is an origin story -- it's not too much of a shock that Sully would have fewer gray hairs.
Amazon orders William Gibson series from the creators of 'Westworld'
Amazon's push into sci-fi increasingly entails some of the biggest names in the business, both on-screen and off. After months of waiting, Amazon has ordered a Prime Video series adaptation of William Gibson's sci-fi novel The Peripheral that will be executive produced by Westworld creators Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan (shown above) as well as A Simple Plan's Scott Smith. The mystery/thriller hybrid revolves around a woman struggling to deal with a broken family until she witnesses what she think might be a horrific murder. After that, the future "comes calling for her" -- or rather, futures.
Disney+ already has over 10 million sign-ups
You knew Disney+ was going to be a big deal between the range of content and the sheer marketing juggernaut behind it, but it's now clear just how big. Disney has revealed that over 10 million people have already signed up for its streaming service. For context, the company's own Hulu has 'just' 28 million total customers (paid and promotional) -- Disney+ has already racked up over a third of that subscriber base. Netflix has over 60 million subscribers in the US, but it also took years to reach that kind of viewership.
Apple TV+ is now available on more Amazon Fire devices
If Apple is serious about claiming a piece of the streaming pie with Apple TV+, it's going to have to make sure its customers can access it without having to fork out for a bunch of new gear. That's why, overnight, Apple made the platform available on a number of new Amazon Fire devices.
Disney+ cuts off 'Simpsons' jokes with widescreen episodes
The Disney+ launch didn't just have some technical hiccups -- it also irritated The Simpsons fans. Viewers have discovered that all classic Simpsons episodes are the cropped widescreen versions, not the 4:3 originals that FXX brought back in 2015. And just like four years ago, that decision wrecks some sight gags, such as the revelation that all of Duff's beers come from the same source. There are also instances where the picture has been stretched to fit the modern TV aspect ratio.
'Star Wars' on Disney+ reignites the Han-Greedo fan drama
If you thought George Lucas' constant tweaking of Star Wars wouldn't extend to the Disney+ releases, you were mistaken -- although it's not quite what you might expect. Viewers have discovered that the 4K HDR remaster includes yet another change George Lucas made in the pre-Disney era to Han Solo's encounter with Greedo in A New Hope. It won't quite rekindle the outrage that occurred when Greedo shot first in the 1997 re-releases, but purists may be left scratching their heads. (Spoilers follow.)
'Sonic the Hedgehog' movie tries again with a new trailer
Paramount's original trailer for the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog movie was... really something, wasn't it? The under-stylized body, the odd soundtrack choice, the teeth. Such was the Sonic fandom's collective horror that director Jeff Fowler swiftly announced the movie would be put on pause until the studio got the design right. Now, they think they've nailed it.
DC Universe's flagship show 'Titans' renewed for third season
DC Universe's fate is less than certain, but it's clear that at least one marquee series is safe. DC and WarnerMedia have renewed Titans for a third season -- the first DC Universe original to get the nod a second time. While there aren't details of what that next season will entail, it's expected sometime in fall 2020.
Production is finally starting on the 'Halo' TV series
After six long years, filming for the Halo TV series is ready to start. Showtime has announced that production on the game-based show is "about to begin," and has revealed three new cast members in the process. Danny Sapani (of Doctor Who and The Last Jedi) will play "dedicated military man" Jacob Keys, while Olive Gray (Fleabag and Eastenders) will play UNSC Commander Dr. Miranda Keyes. Charlie Murphy (of Peaky Blinders fame) will play Makee, an orphan raised by the Covenant that shares their hatred of humans.
Johnny Cash's powerful voice narrates his life in YouTube's 'The Gift'
"I was a bag of bones. I looked like walking death, and I knew it." By now the trials, and redemption, of Johnny Cash are well documented. Whether it's 2005's Walk The Line or, most recently, Ken Burns' Country Music, it's not hard to find a detailed account of the career of the Man in Black. What many of them don't offer though is Cash's own perspective on his life -- both the highs and the lows. With Emmy-winning director Thom Zimny's The Gift: The Journey of Johnny Cash, we get just that. And the impact is more haunting and inspiring than any other time these stories have been told.
Apple orders Ben Stiller workplace drama starring Adam Scott
Apple is continuing to expand its post-launch TV+ lineup with high-profile shows. The company has ordered Severance, a workplace drama directed by Ben Stiller and created by The Good Fight's Dan Erickson. The 10-episode first season will star Adam Scott (Ed Mackenzie in Big Little Lies) as an employee recovering from his "dark past." Scott will also produce, while Outcast's Chris Black will executive produce alongside Erickson.
Netflix CEO says time spent streaming matters more than subscriptions
Netflix founder and CEO Reed Hastings doesn't have any beef with other streaming services, and is actually planning on subscribing to Disney+ when it launches. These are just some of the insights he shared at the New York Times' DealBook conference on Wednesday.
'Death Stranding' is a great movie
Hideo Kojima builds cinematic games. His projects are visually ambitious, narratively complex and cutscene-heavy, dripping with references to the vaults of Alfred Hitchcock, George Romero and Orson Welles. Kojima is transparent about his obsession with film and how it influences his creative process. "Just like the human body is 70 percent water, I'm 70 percent film." Kojima has repeated this idea in interviews and essays throughout his 33-year career as a video game designer. It rang true when he made Snatcher in 1988, Policenauts in 1994 and Metal Gear Solid in 1998. It rings true today, with the imminent release of Death Stranding, Kojima's first project as an independent developer.
The 'Stargate' streaming service is closing shop and moving to YouTube
After less than two years in operation, Stargate Command, the sci-fi series' official streaming service and fan hub, is shutting down at the end of the year. It's not a total loss though; original shows like Dialing Home and Recon will be available for free on YouTube in 2020. Stargate aficionados are sure to be disappointed by the news, but this seemed like a weird pull from the beginning. Even a dedicated Star Trek streaming service sounds dubious, despite Star Trek having a far broader audience.
Disney+ will launch with musicals and documentaries galore
When Disney's new streaming service launches next week, it won't just be opening the vault doors to its massive Walt Disney Studios, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar and National Geographic archives. Disney+ will also launch with 10 new, original films and more than 25 original series. Here are some of the shows we're most excited to watch.
Shyamalan's 'Servant' trailer brings a creepy baby doll to Apple TV+
Apple is finally offering a full trailer for M. Night Shyamalan's Servant, and it's just as creepy as you might hope. The Apple TV+ series preview underscores the suspense as a couple, Dorothy and Sean, hires a nanny to take care of the (eerily realistic) baby doll they use to help Dorothy deal with the trauma of losing her newborn child. It's a strange enough situation by itself, but it threatens to become much worse as it becomes clear the nanny isn't just an innocent helper. And that's not including the strained relations between Dorothy and Sean -- what if Dorothy snaps out of her illusion?
Nokia-branded smart TVs are coming to India
The Nokia brand name may be synonymous with the indestructible cell phones of the 2000s, but did you know that back in the mid-90s it had a line in widescreen TVs? Nokia's efforts in the TV sphere may never have caught on with mainstream tech enthusiasts back then, but that could be about to change, as the company is now planning on launching a range of smart TVs in India.

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