Extra! Extra! Top TV News Of The Week - HBO Goes “Just Max, Thanks”, ‘The Great’ Trailer, Jodie Foster in ‘True Detective’ and Robert Downey, Jr in ‘The Sympathizer’
HBO’s dropping all the beats this week 🎵
HBO is rebranding its entire streaming platform come May 23, dropping the HBO and naming it just MAX. Great for those of you who have a cool dog named Max, but not great if you’re reminded of your douchey ex-boyfriend every time you click on your TV’s home screen. HBO, Warner Bros, and Discovery+ will combine all their streaming powers into one MAX platform and with it comes a new pricing tier — $15.99/month ad-free, $9.99/month with ads, and $19.99/month allowing for more downloads and four simultaneous streams.
All The HBO Nuggets From Their Big Reveal On Wednesday!
Game of Thrones Prequel Series ‘Knight of Seven Kingdoms’ lands series order. The new series will take place 100 years before the events in GOT and will be written and produced by George R.R. Martin, the author of the “Game of Thrones” novels.
Harry Potter adaptation series is official - will star entirely new cast. MAX has committed to multiple seasons, one per book which could essentially make it go into 10 years.
The Big Bang Theory Spinoff In The Works with creator Chuck Lorre. No details of what the series will be about, but expected is an entirely new cast with guest cameos and extended to hour-long episodes.
The Conjuring TV series in the works! It will be a drama series including all the stories from the Conjuring universe including Annabelle and The Nun.
Plus! A Ton of New Trailers Revealed — Keep Scrolling To Watch Them!
Top 5 TV News Stories of the Week
‘Legally Blonde’ Series in the Works At Prime Video
Now that Amazon has acquired all the MGM goodies, they are not waiting to turn some of their most popular films into series including Legally Blonde, that sassy and sneaky feminist comedy from 2001 starring Reese Witherspoon. No details as of yet, and to whether Witherspoon will be involved, but the studio is now deciding whether to push the series through first or the third film currently in development.
‘Modern Family’s’ Julie Bowen Set To Star in ‘Hysteria’ series at Peacock
In a change of genres, Julie Bowen has taken the role as mother of a teenage outcast in a coming-of-age thriller that explores the dark history of mass hysteria in America. It’s told through a struggling high school heavy metal band in the Midwest known as Satanic Panic who is accused of the recent murders and kidnappings in their neighborhood. The series will be a blend paranormal and suspense.
The Duffer Brothers Creating ‘Stranger Things’ Animated Series at Netflix
For fans of Stranger Things that won’t be able to let go once the final season airs, there’s an animated series in the works from the original creators. Matt and Ross Duffer (The Duffer Brothers) will produce the new series that will be in the vein of those old Saturday morning cartoons the brothers grew up with. Plot details are still on the hush, but the brothers are also working hard on a stage play set in 1950s Hawkins and a possible live-action spinoff. Stay tuned!
SVU Kelli Giddish To Return As Rollins For Season 24 Finale
For all you SVU fans (or as my mom likes to call it SUV), Detective Amanda Rollins, played by Kellie Giddish, will be returning in the season final of Law & Order: SVU just months after her departure from the series. Spoiler Alert! She will be returning pregnant! Also expect to see her this fall in the season 4 premiere of Law & Order: Organized Crime.
‘Hollywood Black’ In The Works At MGM+ With Forest Whitaker Producing
Pretty excited about this news, since MGM+ has some of the best documentaries (aside from Showtime). A new four-part docuseries is in the works that will tell the story of Black creatives and their experience through Hollywood over 100 years. It’s based on historian Donald Bogle’s book of the same name. Audiences will discover the history of the pioneers of Hollywood — directors, actors, producers and writers who fought to get their name on the page, behind the camera and on the screen. Forest Whitaker who currently stars in MGM+’s Godfather of Harlem will executive produce the docuseries.
Renewals/Cancellations
Chicago Fire renewed for Season 12 at NBC
Chicago P.D. renewed for Season 11 at NBC
Chicago Med renewed for Season 9 at NBC
Law & Order: SVU renewed for Season 25 at NBC
Law & Order: Organized Crime renewed for Season 4 at NBC
Law & Order renewed for Season 23 at NBC
Star Wars: The Bad Batch renewed for Season 3 at Disney+
Tales of the Jedi renewed for Season 2 at Disney+
Die Hart starring Kevin Hart renewed for Season 3 at Roku Channel
A League of Their Own renewed for a final Season 2 at Amazon Prime
Buying Beverly Hills renewed for Season 2 at Netflix
The Ark renewed for Season 2 at SyFy
Freeridge cancelled at Netflix after one season
Save The Date
May 4: Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 premieres on Disney+
May 9: Hannah Gadsby “Something Special” comedy series premieres at Netflix
May 17: Sylvestor Stallone’s ‘The Family Stallone’ reality series premieres on Paramount+
May 23: Shazam! Fury of the Gods will premieres on HBO’s rebranded MAX
May 30: Dark Side of the Ring, a pro-wrestling docuseries premieres on ViceTV
June 4: Joe Pickett: Season 2 on Paramount+
June 8: Never Have I Ever - Final Season premieres on Netflix
June 9: Superfan Competition Series premieres on Paramount+
July 12: Afterparty: Season 2 at Apple TV+
2024: Welcome To Derry, the IT prequel series will premiere on HBO’s rebranded MAX
Streamer News
DirecTV adds environmental channel EarthxTV ahead of Earth Day
Paramount+ Inks Formula 1 Global Sponsorship - expect to see tons of commercials and advertising for Paramount+ shows at every event.
Showtime will officially shut down in September as it gets integrated with Paramount+.
YouTube Will Offer NFL Sunday Ticket Without YouTube TV Live Subscription. The streaming platform will offer two pricing tiers — $349 with YouTube TV or $449 for non-subscribers. That’s a lot of chicken wings!
Trailer of the Week: The Great: Season 3 (Hulu) + True Detective: Season 4 (HBO)
More Trailer Premieres:
Bupkis (Peacock) May 4
An 8-episode series starring Pete Davidson who plays an absurd version of himself. The comedy is sort of in the vein of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Also stars Edie Falco and Joe Pesci.
Crater (Disney+) May 12
After the death of his father, a boy growing up on a lunar mining colony takes a trip to explore a legendary crater along with his four best friends before being permanently located to another planet.
The Muppets Mayhem (Disney+) May 12
Follow the Muppets on an adventure as they try to record their first-ever album!
Mother (Netflix) May 12
Jennifer Lopez stars in a new film as an assassin who comes out of hiding to protect her daughter she left early in her life.
Gremlins: Secret of the Mogwai (HBO MAX) May 23
An animated series about the adventures of Sam Wing in his youth and Gizmo, the Mogwai in China.
Smartless: On The Road (HBO) May 23
Justin Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett give you a behind-the-scene look at their hilarious adventures on the road of their live podcast tour.
The Regime (HBO) Premiering 2024
Kate Winslet returns to HBO in a series about an authoritarian regime about to unravel taking place in a year’s time within the walls of its palace.
Fixer Upper: The Hotel with Chip and Joanna Gaines (HBO)
Tease of the Week: The Penguin starring Colin Farrell (HBO)
The Batman-spinoff will follow the transformation of Oswald Cobblepot from a disfigured nobody to a noted Gotham gangster.
More Teases: The Continental - From the World of John Wick, September 2023 (Peacock)
The Continental is a chain of hotels located all around the world that function as a neutral territory for members of the criminal underworld. They are frequented by many hitman and notorious murderers.
Class of ’09 (FX on Hulu) May 10
A miniseries about FBI agents who graduated from Quantico in 2009 are reunited following the death of a mutual friend.
From Book To Stream: The Sympathizer starring Robert Downey, Jr (HBO)
This best-selling novel from Viet Thangh Nguyen is getting the series streaming at HBO. The story follows a half-French, half-Vietnamese man who served as a spy for Communist forces during the Vietnam War. Episodes are directed by Park Chan-Wook (Oldboy) and Marc Munden (The Secret Garden).
From Stage To Stream: The Piano Lesson (Netflix)
Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington will star in the film adaptation of August Wilson’s stage play ‘The Piano Lesson’ for Netflix. The story is set in 1936 Pittsburgh on the tail of The Great Depression, centering around the Charles Family. Jackson will play the patriarch of the family, while Washington will play his nephew (a role that Jackson originated in the 1987 stage production). The title of the play is inspired by the family’s heirloom, a piano, which has designs carved on it from an enslaved ancestor. Denzel Washington is on board to produce. The film is currently in development.
Happy Birthday! 🥳🎉
April 14
Abigail Breslin, 26 - Stream Little Miss Sunshine (Cinemax), Signs (HBO Max)
Adrien Brody, 49 - Stream Poker Face (Peacock), The Pianist (Amazon Prime)
Sarah Michelle Gellar, 45 - Stream Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Hulu), Wolf Pack (Paramount+)
Adam DiMarco - Stream The White Lotus: Season 2 (HBO Max)
Anthony Michael Hall, 54 - Stream Sixteen Candles (Hulu), The Breakfast Club (Amazon Prime)
Julie Christie - Stream Afterglow (Freevee), Heaven Can Wait (Amazon Prime)
April 15 🎉
Luke Evans, 43 - Stream Dracula Untold (Netflix), Beauty and the Beast (Disney+)
Emma Watson, 32 - Stream Harry Potter (HBO Max), The Bling Ring (Showtime)
Seth Rogan, 40 - Stream This is the End (HBO Max), Pam & Tommy (Hulu)
Emma Thompson, 63 - Stream Mathilda (Netflix), Cruella (Disney+)
Maisie Williams, 25 - Stream Game of Thrones (HBO)
Toheeb Jimoh, 25 - Stream Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)
Samira Wiley, 35 - Stream Orange is the New Black (Netflix), The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
Elizabeth Montgomery 1933-1995 - Stream Bewitched (Freevee)
April 16 🥳
Anya Taylor-Joy, 26 - Stream The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix), The Menu (HBO Max)
Sadie Sink, 20 - Stream Stranger Things (Netflix), Fear Street: Part 2 (Netflix)
Ellen Barkin, 68 - Stream Poker Face (Peacock), The Fan (Hulu)
Claire Foy, 38 - Stream The Crown (Netflix), The Girl in the Spider’s Web (FXNow)
Charlie Chaplin 1889-1977 - Stream The Great Dictator and Modern Times (HBO Max)
Jon Cryer - Stream Two and A Half Men (Peacock), Superman IV (HBO Max)
Excellent 🤗