TV & movies

The latest news and reviews of TV shows and movies.

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Huawei's Android alternative powers Honor's first smart TV
Huawei has unveiled its Honor brand's first smart TV, which is also the first product powered by the Android alternative the company launched at its developer conference. As the controversial manufacturer explained, HarmonyOS is aimed at IoT devices like smart displays and speakers, as well as wearables and in-car devices. Honor President George Zhao said the new display, called Honor Vision, is meant to be used not just as a TV, but also as an information center and a control panel of sorts for your connected devices.
A 'Home Alone' reboot is coming to Disney+
It was clear that Disney's upcoming streaming service, Disney+, would be relying on some familiar names when it first started devouring movie and TV franchises left, right and center. What wasn't apparent at the time, though, was just how heavily the platform planned to lean on existing content -- or more specifically, the "reimagining" of movie classics. In the company's third-quarter earnings call this week, Disney's Bob Iger revealed plans to reboot four franchises from its newly-acquired Fox library, including Cheaper By the Dozen, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Night at the Museum and beloved Christmas masterpiece, Home Alone.
Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's new comedy series is an Amazon original
The next team-up between Simon Pegg and Nick Frost will take place online. Amazon has snapped up the rights to Truth Seekers, a "comedy-horror" Prime Video series about paranormal investigators who unearth a conspiracy that threatens humanity. Frost will play one half of the investigative duo, while Pegg is playing a currently mysterious character Dave. It's the first episodic project from the two stars' production company Stolen Picture, and they'll co-write the series alongside veterans Nat Saunders and James Serafinowicz.
An 'Event Horizon' series is in the works at Amazon
The classic sci-fi horror movie Event Horizon is about to get a new lease on life in the streaming era. Variety has learned that Amazon and Paramount are creating an Event Horizon series for Prime Video. Details of the plot are scarce, although the 1997 flick revolved around a ship whose trip to an alternate dimension unleashed terrors on the crew sent to rescue the vessel. There will, however, be a connection to the creative team from the movie.
'The Matrix' returns to theaters August 30th with Dolby Vision and Atmos
The Matrix is coming back to theaters to (belatedly) mark its 20th anniversary, and you might have a reason to watch even if you're not overwhelmed with nostalgia. The sci-fi classic will start a one-week run on August 30th at AMC's Dolby Cinemas across the US in its fully modernized form, complete with a Dolby Vision picture and Dolby Atmos audio. You've had access to those at home, but this is the first time you can experience the movie that way on the big screen -- those bullet-dodging scenes should be that much more immersive.
'Star Trek: Picard' will have its own prequel comic and novel
Streaming shows have had literary tie-ins before, but not quite like this. CBS All Access' upcoming Star Trek: Picard will have two works that serve as lead-ins to the series -- you'll want to read them if you intend to be fully informed before the show's debut. A three-part IDW comic book series, Star Trek: Picard--Countdown, will kick off in November 2019 and center on a mission that will "change the life" of the legendary Starfleet captain. You'll have a better sense of the situation he's in as the online show begins.
'Halo' TV series has its Cortana ahead of early 2021 premiere
While Showtime took forever to start filling in details for its Halo TV series, it's clearly eager to make up for lost time. The broadcaster has announced that Natascha McElhone (of Ronin and Californication fame) will portray both the legendary Cortana AI as well as Dr. Catherine Halsey, the creator of Spartan supersoldiers like Master Chief. The producers have filled out considerably more of the cast beyond these prominent roles, too.
'The Man Who Fell to Earth' will get a TV remake on CBS All Access
CBS is continuing its habit of reviving classic franchises as streaming shows. The broadcaster has ordered a series version of The Man Who Fell to Earth based on both Walter Tevis' novel and the legendary movie starring David Bowie. The premise remains largely the same -- an alien lands on Earth at a "turning point" for humans and learns what our species is like while trying to protect his own. There's no casting or release info at this stage, but the show will have strong production talent.
Google Assistant finally comes to Dish's receivers
It only took half a year, but Dish's receivers are finally ready to work with Google Assistant. The satellite TV provider has started rolling out an update for Hoppers that lets you use the voice remote to check the weather, control your smart home and, of course, steer the Hopper itself. The update works with all Hopper generations as well as Joey and Wally devices.
'The Irishman' trailer shows Scorsese and Netflix chasing critical glory
If there was any doubt that Netflix was hunting for awards with Martin Scorsese's The Irishman, it just got erased. The streaming service has released a teaser (really, a first trailer) for the mob epic, and it's clear the movie is a callback to Scorsese classics like Goodfellas and Casino in more ways than one. There's the premise, for a start -- it shows the evolution of the Mafia over decades through the perspective of the hitman who claimed to have killed Jimmy Hoffa. However, it's the acting talent that's on clearest display here.
Vizio begins updating its TVs with AirPlay 2 and HomeKit
After unveiling it at CES 2019, Vizio has announced that it's finally rolling out support for Apple's AirPlay 2 and HomeKit platforms. Coming via an update to its SmartCast 3.0 platform, it'll let users play videos, music and photos directly from iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. Best of all, it'll work not just on its recent 2019 TVs, but on Vizio SmartCast models dating all the way back to 2016.
Hulu's live TV service is coming to Android TV
You don't have to make do with on-demand video if you watch Hulu on an Android TV device. Hulu is rolling out support for its Live TV service to Google-powered devices in early August, including TV sets from Sony and Hisense as well as set-tops like NVIDIA's Shield and Xiaomi's Mi Box. You'll also get Hulu's latest interface as part of the launch.
Farewell DirecTV Now, hello AT&T TV Now
You'd be forgiven if you were befuddled by AT&T's range of streaming services. Between DirecTV Now, HBO Max, Watch TV and now AT&T TV, it's not always clear what service will meet your needs, or even which app you might need. The telecom thinks it can simplify things a bit... well, maybe. As part of summer trials for its satellite TV substitute AT&T TV, it's rebadging DirecTV Now as AT&T TV Now and folding service into the same AT&T TV app. You'll have just one place to go whether you're a cord-cutter looking for a lean TV package or just looking for an alternative to satellite.
LG's high-end 4K TVs get AirPlay 2 and HomeKit first in the US
You don't have to wonder when LG will roll out AirPlay 2 and HomeKit to its TVs in the US -- it's here. The Apple ecosystem support is now available to higher-end 2019 LG TVs in the country through a firmware update. The features are currently ready for OLED and NanoCell 4K LCD sets with ThinQ capabilities, excluding the SM8100 series. Other 4K sets will get their updates later in the year.
Netflix forges multi-year animation deal with the team from 'Big Mouth'
If you can't get enough of shows like Big Mouth, you're in for a treat. Netflix has struck a deal with Brutus Pink, the new production house from Big Mouth creators Nick Kroll, Jennifer Flackett, Andrew Goldberg and Mark Levin. The multi-year arrangement will have the team producing animated movies and shows for Netflix, including three more seasons of Big Mouth beyond the third season already lined up for the fall.
Amazon's 'Jack Ryan' season 2 teaser includes explosions and intrigue
The deluge of Amazon Prime Video news also includes a treat for Tom Clancy enthusiasts. After a long, long wait, Amazon has posted a teaser trailer for the second season of Jack Ryan. The clip is unsurprisingly light on story, but does suggest the stakes (and stunts) are higher for Jack this time around. The CIA agent will have to grapple with IEDs, rooftop jumps and airborne insertions, not to mention political intrigue that complicates matters.
Amazon's 'Transparent' ends with a musical finale on September 27th
Amazon's long-promised Transparent series finale now has a release date. The two-hour musical extravaganza is coming to Prime Video on September 27th, and the trailer gives you an idea of just how the show will handle Jeffrey Tambor's departure. It's treating his character Maura's exit as a sudden death, much like Frank in House of Cards, but it's a more sympathetic approach this time around -- the Pfefferman family uses song and dance to deal with the grief of losing an "irreplaceable" person. Much of the cast will return for the sendoff.
Amazon's 'Lord of the Rings' team includes 'Breaking Bad' and HBO alumni
Amazon hasn't officially revealed the cast of its much-hyped Lord of the Rings series, but it's more than willing to talk about the creative team. The internet pioneer has unveiled the producers and writers behind the Tolkien-based show, and many of them are responsible for beloved shows -- even if you're not particularly familiar with the names involved. Showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay are just part of the picture.
Amazon renews rescued sci-fi series 'The Expanse' for fifth season
Amazon clearly has a lot of confidence in its revival of The Expanse -- the internet giant has renewed the gritty sci-fi show for a fifth season months before season four's December 13th premiere. That's not completely surprising when the Prime Video series both has a devoted following from its Syfy days and an experienced team. Nonetheless, it's likely to be comforting for fans worried that Amazon might resurrect the show only to axe it soon afterward.
Regal Cinemas unveils its unlimited movie subscription service
Regal Cinemas is the latest company to offer an unlimited movie ticket subscription service. The details of its new Regal Unlimited program were posted on its website today. The service isn't up and running just yet, but according to Deadline, it should launch in less than a week.

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