TV & movies

The latest news and reviews of TV shows and movies.

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Netflix and Michael Bay to make an action movie starring Ryan Reynolds
If you thought Netflix's Bright was a big deal, you haven't seen anything yet. Netflix has reached a deal with Skydance Media to produce Six Underground, an action thriller directed by Michael Bay. The premise of the flick is still under wraps, but it'll borrow more than a little familiar talent: Deadpool's Ryan Reynolds will star in the film, while Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (conveniently, also from Deadpool) will both write and executive produce the story. Production starts in the summer with an expected release sometime in 2019.
Amazon gives 'Mrs. Maisel' third season just months after premiere
If it wasn't already apparent that Amazon has a lot of confidence in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, it is now. The internet giant has confirmed a third season of the 1950s comedy/drama before the second season has even premiered -- and that's after ordering two seasons right out of the gate. That kind of trust in a show isn't completely unheard of for Amazon (just ask the creators of Jack Ryan), but it's rare when streaming services frequently order one season and wait until after a show's debut to make another commitment.
Netflix snaps up two Cannes award winners despite feud
Just because Netflix couldn't compete at Cannes doesn't mean it's leaving the film festival empty-handed. The streaming video service has acquired the North American and Latin American rights to two Cannes award winners, Alice Rohrwacher's Happy as Lazzaro (that's Rohrwacher pictured above) and Lukas Dhont's Girl. Lazzaro took home a Best Screenplay award for its story of a naively good man roped into faking someone's kidnapping, while Girl won the Camera d'Or (best first film), Best Actor and Queer Palm awards for its story of a transgender teen ballerina struggling to fit in.
Netflix lands political comedy with Jennifer Aniston and Tig Notaro
Netflix is continuing its recent string of big comedy coups. The service has acquired First Ladies, a political comedy starring Jennifer Aniston and comedienne Tig Notaro. The movie (penned by Notaro and wife Stephanie Allynne) will chronicle the escapades of the first woman US President (Aniston) and her wife (Notaro) soon after they move to the White House. There's no premiere date yet, but the title stands out as a collaboration between two of the streaming service's more familiar faces.
Netflix picks up ‘The Big Short’ author’s Wall Street exposé
Michael Lewis might not be a household name, but he probably should be. Lewis is the best-selling author behind the Oscar-nominated film adaptation Moneyball and prize-winning drama The Big Short. Keen to tap into that success is Netflix, which has just picked up the rights to his controversial exposé Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt.
Amazon greenlights docuseries about soccer icon Diego Maradona
Ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Amazon has greenlit a new series about the life of soccer star Diego Maradona. The show will follow Maradona from early childhood to his rise in the world of professional soccer. It will cover his time playing in Spain and Italy as well as the 1986 World Cup, in which he led Argentina to victory. Darker aspects of Maradona's history -- such as failing a drug test during the 1994 World Cup -- will be included as well. "There are few players whose notoriety transcends generations and geographic borders -- Maradona is a household name around the world, and his career highlights are still discussed today among the biggest moments in soccer's history," Amazon Prime Video's Brad Beale said in a statement.
'Sense8' finale trailer is full of bonding and bullets
Netflix has posted the trailer for Sense8's long-in-the-making series finale, and it's clear the mysterious sci-fi show isn't going to go gently into that good night when it wraps up on June 8th. The promo emphasizes the bond between the Sensates ("we are more human than any other human will be,") and makes clear that the stakes are extra-high -- our heroes are not only in a race to save Wolfgang, but are edging ever closer to tracking down BPO's Chairman. And this being a Wachowski production, you can be sure that will involve plenty of martial arts and gunplay.
Amazon snags Jordan Peele-produced Nazi hunter series
Amazon has ordered a Jordan Peele-produced series about Nazi hunters living in 1977 New York City, Deadline reports. In The Hunt, a group known as The Hunters find out that hundreds of Nazi officials are living in the US, plotting the creation of a Fourth Reich. They then decide to stop the Nazis and their plans for genocide. "Our biggest priority is attracting exceptional writing and producing talent to bring addictive, groundbreaking projects to Prime Video," Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said in a statement. "The Hunt is edge-of-your seat entertainment that is not only culturally relevant but deliciously original."
Sinemia takes on MoviePass with subscription plans for two
Sinemia has an idea as to how to beat MoviePass at its own game: offer subscriptions that model the way you usually go to the movies, with other people. It's now offering a range of "Sinemia for Two" subscriptions that, as the name implies, let you bring a partner or friend to the theater. The basic $10 monthly plan (£10 in the UK) offers one movie for two, but you can step up to two movies for $14 (£14), add 3D or IMAX to the mix for $20 (£20) and jump to a third movie for $30 (£30). And yes, you can pick the seats to be sure you stay together.
HBO readies documentary on 'Serial' podcast subject Adnan Syed
The Serial podcast continues to have an effect years after its debut. HBO and Sky are producing a documentary series, The Case Against Adnan Syed, that will cover the allegations against the subject of Serial's first season. The four-hour project will cover the circumstances leading up to Hae Min Lee's murder in 1999, the original trial and, crucially, the decision in the wake of the podcast to vacate his original conviction and grant a retrial.
Twitch's 48-hour 'Saturday Night Live' marathon begins May 17th
Twitch is no stranger to TV show marathons, but it's venturing into uncharted territory this week. The livestreaming service is partnering with NBC on a 48-hour Saturday Night Live marathon starting May 17th at 6PM Eastern. The wall-to-wall run on the TwitchPresents channel will include a mix of classic and recent sketches going back to the series' very beginning, including a few from SNL season finale host Tina Fey. Twitch hasn't provided the full list of sketches as we write this, but it's guaranteed that Bruce Dickinson (yes, the Bruce Dickinson) will make an appearance.
DirecTV Now's revamped apps open up access to cloud DVR
AT&T is acting on its promise to roll out next-gen DirecTV Now service in the spring. The telecom giant is launching a revamped experience that not only includes new apps, but an updated beta of its cloud DVR service that's available to everyone. All subscribers get 20 hours of recordings that last for up to 30 days. If you need more, an extra $10 per month gives you 100 hours of video that lasts for up to 90 days.
'Resident Evil' film team is making the 'Monster Hunter' movie
We last heard the Monster Hunter movie was still in the works back in September 2016, but selling 8 million copies of this year's Monster Hunter: World might have sped things up. According to Variety, the film adaptation has snagged Paul W. S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich, who directed and starred, respectively, in the long-running Resident Evil movie franchise.
'Lost in Space' will return to Netflix after a successful first season
There's little doubt that Netflix put a lot of faith in its Lost in Space remake... thankfully, that trust has paid off. The service has renewed the adventures of the Robinson family for a second season. It's too early for a premiere date or plot details, but you can presume it'll revolve around the colonists' survival in an alien landscape and the alliances they form along the way.
Recommended Reading: Google Assistant's new bag of tricks
Google's Duplex could make Assistant the most lifelike AI yet Richard Nieva, CNET Google has big plans for Assistant, and some of what it showed at I/O this week is equal parts fascinating and worrisome. CNET took a closer look at the so-called Duplex technology that will allow Google Assistant to do things like make phone calls on your behalf. The company has since said it will alert the person on the other end that they're speaking to AI, but for many, questions remain.
RuPaul will take the drag show on the road in new Netflix series
Netflix just snagged itself a new comedy series starring RuPaul. AJ and the Queen centers on a drag queen named Ruby Red (RuPaul) who travels across the country in an old RV performing in different clubs along the way. By her side is AJ, an orphaned, scrappy 11-year-old and as they travel, Ruby spreads messages of love and acceptance, helping people she comes across as she moves from city to city.
Amazon won't distribute Terry Gilliam's ill-fated movie
Terry Gilliam's The Man Who Killed Don Quixote really does seem to be cursed. Variety has learned that Amazon won't distribute the decades-in-the-making movie in the US. It's not certain why Amazon is dropping the title (we've asked for comment), but it comes in the wake of a legal fight between Gilliam and former producer Paulo Branco as well as the resignation of Amazon Studios chief Roy Price following sexual harassment claims. That last part may play an important role -- simply speaking, this might not be the kind of movie Amazon wants on Prime Video.
Cristiano Ronaldo is working on a teen soccer series for Facebook
Christiano Ronaldo is a massive soccer star, a model, a philanthropist and an entrepreneur. He's been involved with a fair share of tech products over the last few years, including a muscle-stimulation device, a line of Monster-branded headphones (Roc Live life Loud) and a ZTE smartphone. Now the sports superstar is moving into media, with a new scripted drama series about a small-town girls soccer team in upstate New York for Facebook Watch.
Hulu's new guide provides fast access to live TV
Hulu has gradually improved access to its live TV service over the past year. Now, however, it's ready for a proper overhaul. The streaming provider has launched a new live TV guide that promises speedier access to channels. If you have an Amazon Fire TV, a recent Apple TV, a Nintendo Switch or an Xbox One, you can quickly see what's airing (including your most recently viewed channels) and either watch or record them. You'll also find a lightning bolt near the home icon that jumps directly to live TV on the last channel you watched. Needless to say, that could prove a time-saver if you're a sports fan who usually returns to the same channel.
A 'monkey selfie' movie might be on the way
Proving that Hollywood will try anything once (and 17 times if enough people watch it), there might be a movie on based on the infamous "monkey selfie" headed our way. Conde Nast Entertainment has bought the life rights for David Slater, the photographer who found himself in a legal battle over a selfie a macaque took in 2011, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Conde Nast usually develops movies based on articles from its publishing arm's magazines like The New Yorker and Vanity Fair, so this is a slightly different step for the company.

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