Michelle Yeoh to lead Blade Runner 2099 / Schmigadoon! to become a live stage musical / Jonathan Bailey says he pitched himself for Heartstopper
PLUS: Game of Thrones spinoff A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms gets shorter title, will consist of 6 episodes and adds Black Mirror "San Junipero" director.
Michelle Yeoh to lead Blade Runner 2099 on Amazon
Yeoh will star in the Amazon Prime Video limited series that serves as a sequel to Ridley Scott’s original 1982 Blake Runner film and its 2017 follow-up Blade Runner 2049. Details of her role are being kept under wraps. But Variety reports Yeoh will play a character named Olwen, described as a replicant near the end of her life. Blade Runner 2099 has been in the works for years, with Scott first revealing plans for a sequel series in November 2022. Amazon officially ordered Blade Runner 2099 to series in September 2022.
Schmigadoon! to become a live stage musical at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Co-creator Cinco Paul wrote the book, music and lyrics for the stage production of his Apple TV+ musical comedy, which was canceled in 2023 after two seasons. The musical will run from Jan. 31 to Feb. 9 at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater. Tony winner Christopher Gattelli has been tapped as the show’s director and choreographer, with casting to be announced. “Schmigadoon! is by far the highlight of my career,” Paul tells The Washington Post. “It’s really just been delightful from start to finish, and that’s why I’m looking forward to expanding our audience in any way we possibly can.”
Disney’s Bob Iger: Marvel to release up to 2 shows and 3 movies a year
“We’re slowly going to decrease volume and go to probably about two TV series a year instead of what had become four and reduce our film output from maybe four a year to two, or a maximum of three,” the Disney CEO said during the company’s quarterly earnings call Tuesday morning. “And we’re working hard on what that path is.”
Wednesday Season 2 adds Steve Buscemi, Thandiwe Newton, Billie Piper and Haley Joel Osment, Christopher Lloyd and more
Season 2 has begun filming in Ireland with Steve Buscemi as a new series regular, along with Billie Piper, Evie Templeton, Owen Painter and Noah Taylor. Watch the cast reveal announcement. Season 2 guest stars include Addams Family star Christopher Lloyd, Thandiwe Newton, Haley Joel Osment, Heather Matarazzo, Joanna Lumley, Frances O’Connor, and Joonas Suotamo. Meanwhile, four actors have been promoted to series regulars: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Isaac Ordonez and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo. ALSO: Season 1 cast members Percy Hynes White, Jamie McShane and Naomi J Ogawa won’t return for Season 2.
NCIS spinoff starring Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo settles on a title: NCIS: Tony & Ziva
The title “makes it really easy, because the fans will know exactly what the show is,” says de Pablo, who will reprise her Ziva David role as Weatherly returns as Tony DiNozzo. According to TVLine, NCIS: Tony & Ziva is expected to film in Budapest and possibly other European locations later this year. ALSO: NCIS boss breaks down the Season 21 finale.
Snowpiercer's fourth and final season will premiere on AMC in July
The dystopian drama that AMC acquired after TNT's cancelation was originally supposed to drop its final season in 2025. Instead, Season 4 will premiere on July 21. Additionally, Seasons 1 and 2 of Snowpiercer will be available to stream exclusively on AMC+ beginning June 1. Season 3 joins AMC+ on June 8.
Game of Thrones spinoff A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms gets shorter title, will consist of 6 episodes and adds Black Mirror "San Junipero" director
The HBO series spinoff previously known as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight will now just be called A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, reports The Hollywood Reporter's James Hibberd. Owen Harris, who directed two of Black Mirror's acclaimed episodes (including "Be Right Back"), has been tapped to direct A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms's first three episodes, "establishing the directorial vision for the series," says Hibberd. "In addition, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms‘ episode count has now been revealed: The first season will be six episodes, making for a tighter opener than the 10-episode first seasons of Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon," says Hibberd. "The run time seems appropriate given Knight is an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s 160-page novella The Hedge Knight rather than one of his 900-page epic novels."
Jonathan Bailey says he pitched himself for Heartstopper
Bailey told Variety's Marc Malkin at the Met Gala he offered himself up to a mutual friend who was an executive producer on the Netflix series and said, "If there’s anything I could do to help and be a part of that story." Bailey added: "Like so many people, I watched the first (season) and thought it was one of the biggest, most beautiful gifts to so many people, and I wish I had that growing up."
Netflix releasing an interactive Virgin River mobile game
Netflix Stories: Virgin River, launching May 29, "invites you to come to the small California town and find your own version of romance and community, just like Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge)," per EW. "You play as yourself, designing an avatar that will turn you into the main character, and begin your own journey in Virgin River."
Teri Hatcher to star in Lifetime movie in movie about possible BTK Killer abduction
The Desperate Housewives alum will co-star with Tahmoh Penikett in The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story, premiering June 29.
Check out Billy Zane as cult leader Larry Ray in Lifetime's Sarah Lawrence sex cult movie
Zane stars in Devil on Campus: The Larry Ray Story, premiering June 23.
Disney plans to launch ESPN tile to Disney+ later this year
The tile will be added by the end of the calendar year, Disney CEO Bob Iger said during an earnings call this morning, and will feature “select live games” as well as studio programming, to watch within Disney+ for U.S. subscribers. “We see this as a first step to bring ESPN to Disney+ viewers as we ready the launch of our enhanced standalone ESPN streaming in the fall of 2025,” Iger said.
Discovery+ UK orders docuseries Taylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun: Bad Blood
The two-part docuseries exploring the fallout between Swift and Braun after the music mogul purchased the rights to Swift’s first six albums in a $300 million deal in June 2019 is part of Discovery+ UK's vs. series.
Nate Bargatze recounts to David Letterman his Late Show rejection
“I was told that it was ‘too mundane,’ and I did not know what that word meant so I looked at it and I put it in my head, and I was like, ‘I don’t think it’s good,’” quipped Bargatze, who was a guest Monday on Letterman's Gods of Comedy series as part of Netflix Is a Joke Fest.
Writers Guild of Canada averts strike
The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) have reached an agreement in principle on terms for a new Independent Production Agreement.
Food Network renews 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing for Season 2
The reality show hosted by Esther Choi and Michael Symon featuring 24 talented chefs taking on 24 food challenges in 24 consecutive, non-stop hours has been picked up for a second season ahead of Sunday's Season 1 finale.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is officially joining Amazon and TNT's NASCAR coverage
“I’m honored to be a part of Prime Video’s entrance into NASCAR,” the former face of NBC Sports' NASCAR coverage said in a press release. “It is an exciting opportunity to have the chance to give our NASCAR fan base yet another way to watch the sport. It will be exciting to see the innovation that Prime Video is going to bring to our sport and the fans.”
Amazon to make it easier to buy products while watching Prime video
Amazon says that it plans to roll out three new ad formats that will make it easier to shop with the remote, including the ability for users to add products to their Amazon carts with a click of their smart TV remote. They include shoppable carousel ads during commercial breaks, interactive pause ads when pausing and interactive brand trivia ads that comes after users share information about themselves.
See Ariana Madix as Love Island USA's new host
Peacock describes the Vanderpump Rules star, who's succeeding Sarah Hyland, as a "hot new bombshell." Love Island USA returns with Season 6 on June 11.
Christopher Walken tries to outrun a murder investigation in The Outlaws Season 3 trailer
Stephen Merchant's British comedy crime thriller returns to Amazon Prime Video with a five-episode season on May 31.
MGM+ releases the trailer for Hotel Cocaine
The 1970s Miami-set crime drama, premiering Aug. 4, Danny Pino, Michael Chiklis, Mark Feuerstein, Yul Vazquez, Tania Watson, Corina Bradley and Laura Gordon.
Cyndi Lauper documentary Let the Canary Sing gets a Paramount+ premiere date and trailer
The Alison Ellwood-directed documentary will be accompanied by a companion album when it's released on June 4. Let the Canary Sing “chronicles Lauper’s meteoric ascent to stardom and her profound impact on generations through her music, ever-evolving punk style, unwavering feminism and tireless advocacy," per the official description. "The documentary takes the audience on an engaging exploration of a renowned and pioneering artist who has left a remarkable legacy with her art."
Netflix unveils the trailer for Buying London
The British luxury real estate reality show premieres May 22.
Watch the trailer for Fox's The Quiz with Balls, hosted by Jay Pharoah
The trivia game show premieres May 28.