News

Shondaland is giving us another White House scandal this spring. The Residence, a “screwball whodunit” set in the halls of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, will drop its eight-episode first season on Thursday, March 20. And now, we have a full-length trailer, which you can watch above.

Inspired by Kate Andersen Brower’s book of the same name, The Residence stars Uzo Aduba as Cordelia Cupp, “the most sought-after detective in the world.” According to her official description, she’s “wry, funny, relentless, supremely confident, an astute observer of human behavior… and a legendary birder.”

More from TVLineLove Is Blind Season 8 Proves Our Crusade...

Exclusive: Writer Mike Gauyo and Coverfly have announced the 2025 class of the Black Boy Writes & Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative, a talent incubator for up-and-coming Black writers.

The new cohort of 10 mentees came together following a global search for emerging storytellers across the Black diaspora. Each writer will have access to monthly roundtables with established writers/industry leaders; writing workshops to fine-tune their scripts and prepare them for fellowships, generals, and staffing opportunities; and general meetings with networks and production companies. Participants will also each receive the latest edition of Final Draft’s screenwriting software, at the end of the year having the opportunity to be read by Gauyo’s agents at Culture Creative and managers at M88 for representation consideration.

The yearlong initiative is co-run by Chief of Programming, Heather Daughtry. Among those set to serve as mentors are Jackie Penn, Andre Ferguson (Power Book II: Ghost...

Exclusive: Spike Lee is developing Liberty, a comedic military drama based on a pitch from writers Rebecca Murga and Jalysa Conway, which he’ll produce with an eye to direct, sources tell Deadline.

Said to be in the vein of The Last Detail, Hal Ashby’s Oscar-nominated 1973 Navy dramedy starring Jack Nicholson, Otis Young and Randy Quaid, Liberty follows a group of military cadets on one crazy night in New York City during Fleet Week. This is the second military-themed project Lee has developed with Murga and Conway — a pair of military veterans who will write the script — on the heels of a coming-of-age Rotc drama series for Amazon, on which we were first to report in 2022.

Lee and Steven Jackson will produce for their 40 Acres And A Mule Filmworks, alongside Underground, which reps the writers.

A U.S. Army vet who completed two tours in Afghanistan, Murga has been a...

Exclusive: ABC is developing Devil’s Ranch, a one-hour military procedural from Will Trent‘s Rebecca Murga.

ABC preemptively acquired off a pitch from Murga, who is writing. Heidi Cole McAdams (Death and Other Details) is set as showrunner. The drama follows a group of ex-military personnel who operate a ranch on the Texas-Mexico border by day and conduct various missions across the globe by night.

20th Television is the studio. McAdams will exec produce alongside Trevor Engelson for Underground, with Underground’s Diego Rey serving as co-executive producer.

A military veteran who’s completed two tours in Afghanistan, Murga has history with ABC and 20th, as a writer on the last two seasons of their popular police procedural Will Trent. She’s also written on Apple TV+’s sports drama Swagger and has set up a coming-of-age Rotc drama at Amazon, which Spike Lee will direct and exec produce.

Keke Palmer is set to star in a TV adaptation of the dark comedy film “The ‘Burbs,” which has been ordered straight-to-series at Peacock.

Celeste Hughey will adapt the film for television. Seth MacFarlane is set to executive produce, as will Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment, with Imagine having produced the film. Dana Olsen, who wrote the film, will co-executive produce.

The series will film on the Universal Studios backlot, just like the movie. Released in 1989, “The ‘Burbs” starred Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern, Rick Ducommun, and Corey Feldman. In the film, the residents of a suburban neighborhood suspect their new neighbors are ritualistic murderers. Produced by Universal Pictures, the film grossed just over $49 million against a reported budget of $18 million. It is now considered a cult classic.

The official logline for the series states, “Set in present-day suburbia, ‘The ‘Burbs’ follows a young couple returning to the husband’s childhood home.

Shooter's recent streaming success and Mark Wahlberg's interest could lead to a sequel with Michael Pea and Antoine Fuqua. There are 12 novels about Bob Lee Swagger, providing plenty of source material for potential sequels to Shooter. Wahlberg references his connections at Paramount and admits a possible sequel would be cool.

Mark Wahlberg addresses the possibility of a sequel to Shooter. Wahlberg starred in the 2007 Antoine Fuqua-directed movie as Marine Scout Sniper Bob Lee Swagger, who is framed for an assassination attempt, and must unravel the sinister political conspiracy at the heart of this injustice. Despite being released 17 years ago, Shooter recently became a streaming hit on Paramount+, where it became one of the service's top 10 performing films available on their platform.

While being interviewed by Screen Rant for his upcoming film The Union, Shooter's recent streaming success was addressed, and Wahlberg was asked whether he would ever...

Deric Augustine and Patrick Keleher have joined the cast of “The Rookie” as recurring guest stars in Season 7, which is set for a mid-season premiere on ABC. The news was announced during Disney’s presentation at the summer 2024 Television Critics Association press tour.

Augustine will play Miles, who is described as “one of the newest rookies at the LAPD. As a Texas transfer, Miles is a ‘rookie’ despite being a two-year veteran of the force.” Keleher will play Seth, another new rookie who “seems like the ideal police officer, but the job requires quick, decisive action — something that doesn’t come naturally to Seth.”

Augustine’s credits include playing Muhammad Ali in the first two seasons of “Godfather of Harlem” on MGM+ and Clay in Seasons 4 and 5 of “All American” on the CW. He has also appeared in “Swagger,” “Shameless,” “Criminal Minds,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Cloak & Dagger” and “Queen Sugar.

ABC’s The Rookie has recruited two new rookies for Season 7 to be played by Deric Augustine (All American) and Patrick Keleher. They will debut during midseason.

Created by Alexi Hawley, The Rookie stars Nathan Fillion as John Nolan, the oldest rookie at the Los Angeles Police Department. The cast also includes Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper, Alyssa Diaz as Angela

Lopez, Richard T. Jones as Sergeant Wade Grey, Melissa O’Neil as Lucy Chen, Eric Winter as Tim

Bradford, Jenna Dewan as Bailey Nune, Shawn Ashmore as Wesley Evers, Tru Valentino as Aaron

Thorsen and Lisseth Chavez as Celina Juarez.

In recurring roles, Augustine plays “Miles,” one of the newest rookies at the LAPD. As a Texas transfer, Miles is a “rookie” despite being a two-year veteran of the force. Keleher plays “Seth,” one of the newest rookies at the LAPD. He seems like the ideal police officer, but the job requires quick,...

The good thing about Apple TV+’s seemingly endless budget is that it allows for projects that other networks and streaming services might put in a box to explore their potential in creative ways. It truly feels like Apple is the best place for creators, and not just because of the money. Despite a few recent missteps, it’s valuable to have a company this massive that’s willing to open the wallets for shows as fundamentally different as “Ted Lasso,” “Dark Matter,” and “Swagger.”

Into this line-up enters creator Katie Robbins’ “Sunny,” one of the most surprisingly accomplished and hard-to-pin-down shows of 2024.

Continue reading ‘Sunny’ Review: Ambitious, Creative Sci-fi Dramedy Defies Expectations at The Playlist.

Stars: Scott Callenberger, LeJon Woods, Mar Cellus, Ameerah Briggs, Kaitlyn Lunardi, Rob Cardazone, Lindsey Dresbach, Jefferson Cox, Daniel Martin Berkey, William Shuman | Written by Bruce Wemple, LeJon Woods | Directed by Bruce Wemple

The Hangman opens with a nod to Fulci’s The Beyond, as a title card informs us that there are seven known gateways to Hell. The one we’re concerned with here isn’t under a hotel in New Orleans, though, it’s somewhere in a nameless part of the mountains of West Virginia.

That’s followed by some cultists pulling something out of that portal, a creature we then see transform a couple of junkies from strung out to strung up. Meet The Hangman.

Oblivious to all of this, Leon and his son Jesse are going on a father and son weekend in the mountains. Unfortunately, the first night goes badly, ending in recriminations over the death...

Since the most unsettling aspect about Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror is that he can never truly be killed, MCU thus appears pumped to unleash multiple versions of the same villain throughout Phase Five. According to Marvel Comics, a variant of Kang can pop up at any time for any reason, and Marvel is willing to go along with these variants in upcoming projects.

Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania | Marvel StudiosThis led people to wonder if a Kang variant has always been present in the MCU timeline, which prompted people to speculate Iron Man 3 character Harley Keener turned into Iron Lad, a variant of Kang. Unfortunately, considering the actor Ty Simpkins who played Keener was racially white, there appeared a casting conflict. Now, Marvel seems to be allegedly race-swapping the major superhero with Isaiah Hill, to fit in as the Kang variant.

Harley...

Exclusive: Ozie Nzeribe (Swagger) has joined the cast of the Tubi film Rock The Boat 2, a project by Footage Films directed by Chris Stokes and producer Marques Houston.

The film follows Millie (Parker Mckenna), who, after losing her memory of her tragic past, tries to pick up the pieces but is terrified when chaos follows her and her friends’ every move.

Nzeribe will play Durell, a young and witty brainiac who’s a bit of a nerd who gets invited to a weekend getaway with his cousin’s friend. Once they are all at the lake house everyone’s motives change.

The cast also includes Parker McKenna, Loretta Devine, Zonnique Pullins, Katlynn Simone, Cynthia Bailey, Iyana Halley, Justin Sweat, Judi Johnson, Jarell Houston, Carnetta Jones, Khylin Rhambo, Dwight Boyce, Janina Gordillo, Farrah Hines, Steven Littles, Alimi Ballard, Shah Granville and Candice Marie.

Stokes serves as executive producer, writer and director...

Stars: Common, Jennifer Hudson, Quvenzhané Wallis, Milla Jovovich, Sam Worthington, Raúl Castillo | Written by Doug Simon | Directed by Stefon Bristol

Breathe takes place in the year 2039 when plant life has become extinct and, as a result, Earth’s oxygen levels are too low to sustain life on the surface. One family, Darius, Maya and their daughter Zora survive in an underground bunker making brief trips to the surface with an oxygen suit Darius created.

As the film opens, Darius’ father dies in an accident on the surface. Darius decides to risk the journey to bury him next to his mother. Months later, he hasn’t returned, then Tess and Lucas turn up claiming to know what happened to him.

Writer Doug Simon and director Stefon Bristol are short on details about how Breathe’s world came to be. We’re simply told that Darius was an engineer and a prepper,...

Who has not felt the sting of a missed opportunity, especially when you have come so close to your big break? For O’Shea Jackson Jr., the brush with a galaxy far, far away was definitely a bitter pill to swallow—one that the fandom of both Star Wars and the actor can empathize with.

Rising to fame as an actor in F. Gary Gray’s 2015 biopic film, Straight Outta Compton, Jackson Jr.’s talent has been evident. Earlier this year, moreover, his candidness about the disappointment of losing a coveted role in Ron Howard’s 2018 film Solo: A Star Wars Story to Donald Glover was as relatable as it was commendable.

O’Shea Jackson Jr. in Straight Outta Compton (Credit: Universal Pictures)

Opening up about the intense audition process, Jackson Jr. reflected on his confidence after multiple auditions for the role of Lando Calrissian, only to experience a letdown when Glover was cast.

Pop quiz: Which of these Apple TV+ shows is real? "Dear Edward," "Acapulco," "Liason," or "Swagger?" Trick question -- the answer is all of them. I'm not trying to dunk on those specific shows, just illustrating the point that since Apple TV+ is still not a super heavy hitter in the streaming game, a lot of great stuff can easily fall through the cracks. But if you like compelling television, you won't want the new series "Sugar" to fall through the cracks. 

Created by Mark Protosevich and executive produced and frequently directed by Fernando Meirelles, the series is a noir mystery starring Colin Farrell as John Sugar, a private investigator who is tasked with tracking down a missing girl in Los Angeles. You've seen that premise a thousand times in movies featuring guys like Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum, and Dana Andrews. But "Sugar" not only welcomes those comparisons, it actively...

Swagger is a sports drama in the Apple TV+ series created by Reggie Rock Bythewood. Loosely inspired by the real-life experiences of NBA player Kevin Durant, the Apple TV+ series explores the world of youth basketball through the players and their families and all the people involved in making the youngster’s dream come true. Swagger stars Solomon Irama, Tessa Ferrer, Quvenzhané Wallis, Shinelle Azoroh, O’Seah Jackson Jr., Caleel Harris, Tristan Wilds, Isaiah Hill, James Bingham, and Ozie Nzeribe. So, if you loved Swagger and all of its drama and a look into the world of sports here are some similar shows you should check out next.

All American (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – The CW

Inspired by the real-life of pro football player Spencer Paysinger, All American is a sports drama that will show you the story behind the legend just like Swagger did. Created by April Blair,...

The premiere of National Geographic’s “Genius: MLK/X” was held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles on Monday, January 29. Following a star-studded red carpet and screening of the first episode titled “Graduation,” a panel was hosted by civil rights advocate and law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw. Panelists included executive producers Reggie Rock Bythewood, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Brian Grazer, actors Kelvin Harrison Jr., Weruche Opia (Coretta Scott King), Aaron Pierre (Malolm X), Jayme Lawson (Betty Shabazz), showrunners Raphael Jackson Jr. and Damione Madedon, director Channing Godfrey Peoples and writer Jeff Stetson. Read the partial transcript from the event below.

Episode 1 (“Graduation”) is an intense focus on the formative years of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X and their experiences and relationships as young children and teens that shape and influence the iconic figures they would become. Malcolm’s release from prison and King’s graduation from Boston University...

Screen Rant interviewed Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood about Genius: MLK/X. Executive producers Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood collaborated on the project and found an incredible team to bring their vision to life. The series takes a unique approach in dramatizing monumental moments, incorporating music to evoke emotion and reveal lesser-known aspects of history. The structure of the show highlights the common goal of the two icons as they championed human rights.

National Geographic’s anthology drama series Genius continues with Genius: MLK/X. Technically Genius season 4, this latest iteration breaks the mold by focusing on not one, but two massively influential figures in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The season follows both icons throughout their lives and also makes an effort to highlight the contributions of their spouses, mentors, and families.

Genius: MLK/X was developed in part by executive producers Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood.

The cancellations continue at Apple.

The streamer has canceled its musical comedy Schmigadoon after a two-season run, co-creator Cinco Paul shared on social media Thursday.

“I am sad to share that Apple will not be moving forward with season three of Schmigadoon!” he shared on social. “The season is written (including 25 new songs), but we unfortunately won’t be making it. Such is life.” (Read his full, heartfelt post, below.)

From executive producer Lorne Michaels and Universal Television, Paul serves as showrunner and co-created the series alongside Ken Daurio. Season one of the series launched in summer 2021, with the Cecily Strong vehicle renewed nearly a year after its debut.

Season two featured a new setting and returned star Keegan-Michael Key alongside the likes of Ariana DeBose, Dove Cameron, Jaime Camil, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ann Harada, Jane Krakowski, Martin Short, Aaron Tveit, Tituss Burgess and Patrick Page. Season two launched...

Apple is not moving forward with another season of “Central Park,” Variety has confirmed.

Previously, series star Josh Gad, who also serves as EP and writer, shared the news over the weekend on social media, telling fans “Sadly, it’s done” when asked about the show’s return.

The animated comedy follows “Owen Tillerman and his family live an unconventional life in New York’s bustling Central Park, which Owen manages; now, they’ll have to fend off a wealthy hotel heiress who wants to turn the park into condos,” per the series description.

Season 3, which was released on Sept. 9, picked up with Kristen Bell in a new role on the show. Bitsy continued her pursuit to buy the park as Owen took on a new promotional campaign to make more people fall in love with it. Meanwhile, Paige wound up busier than ever after landing her first book deal.

Apple TV+ has quietly cancelled the animated comedy Central Park after three seasons, confirming the trend of cancellations on the platform. Unlike other streamers, Apple TV+ doesn't have a catalog of old shows and movies, so it needs to consistently produce new content to remain a viable subscription service. The cancellations at Apple TV+ show that despite Apple's overall success, the financials and performance of individual shows do matter for the streaming platform's future.

Central Park star and co-creator Josh Gad confirms the quiet cancellation of the Apple TV+ animated comedy. It has been a strong year for Apple TV+ in some respects, with shows like Silo and Hijack breaking through. The Morning Show season 3 also reached new highs, cracking Nielsen's Top 10 for streaming. But the platform, like other streaming services, has been cancelling shows ahead of an expected reduction in scripted programming.

Gad confirmed that Apple TV...

Swagger is not returning for a third season. Apple TV+ has cancelled the basketball drama, which takes viewers into the world of elite youth basketball clubs. Season two wrapped on the streaming service in early August.

Starring O’Shea Jackson Jr., Isaiah Hill, Quvenzhané Wallis, Shinelle Azoroh, Tessa Ferrer, Caleel Harris, James Bingham, Solomon Irama, Ozie Nzeribe, and Tristan Mack Wilds, the Swagger series, inspired by the life of NBA star Kevin Durant, follows the players, their families, and coaches on and off the basketball court.

Read More…...

Swagger star O’Shea Jackson Jr. is speaking out about the Apple TV+ basketball drama’s cancellation after two seasons.

“Damn near no promotion. Couldn’t even talk about it when it aired because of the strike. And it still got up to Apple’s Top 4. But “the numbers weren’t there”. Right. Ima miss my boys,” Jackson wrote on X (fka Twitter).

Inspired by NBA star Kevin Durant’s experiences as a kid, Swagger explored the world of elite youth basketball clubs, the players, their families and coaches. In addition to Jackson, it starred Isaiah Hill, Shinelle Azoroh, Quvenzhané Wallis, Caleel Harris, Tristan Mack Wilds, Tessa Ferrer, James Bingham, Solomon Irama, Ozie Nzeribe and Jason Riveram.

In an Instagram post sharing news of the cancellation, series creator Reggie Rock Bythewood thanked Apple for allowing him to make “the show I wanted to make.”

“What an amazing adventure. In our two seasons,...

Here is a wrap-up of all the news you need to know from Thursday, November 30, 2023.

Griselda is ready for her close-up.

Today, Netflix unveiled the official trailer for its upcoming Sofia Vergara limited series, Griselda.

The six-part series will debut on Thursday, January 25, 2024.

Griselda is inspired by the life of the savvy and ambitious Griselda Blanco, who created one of the most profitable cartels in history.

In 1970s-80s Miami, Blanco's lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm helped her expertly navigate between business and family, leading her to become widely known as "the Godmother."

This looks set to be a massive departure for Sofia Vergara, who was a lead on Modern Family before moving on to judge on America's Got Talent.

Vergara is also set to executive produce the series alongside Eric Newman and Andrés Baiz. Baiz is set to direct all six episodes.

Ingrid Escajeda (Justified) and...

Swagger has been cancelled after two seasons at Apple. Creator Reggie Rock Bythewood shared the news on Instagram, penning a heartfelt tribute to the cast and crew and thanking audiences for their support. Swagger earned positive reviews from critics for the performance of its cast and it's strong writing, with particular praise levied at its exploration of relevant themes relating to race and social economics.

Apple has cancelled Swagger after 2 seasons, announces the creator. First hitting Apple TV Plus in 2021, Swagger, which is created by Reggie Rock Bythewood, is loosely based on the rise of NBA player Kevin Durant. Swagger season 2 hit the streamer this past summer and, ended up earning even more positive reviews from critics than season 1 did.

Now, Bythewood has taken to Instagram to confirm that Swagger season 3 will not be moving forward at Apple. Check out Bythewood's post below:

View this post on Instagram A post...

Apple TV+‘s Swagger, from series creator, showrunner, and Shots Fired director Reggie Rock Bythewood, has been canceled after two seasons. “What an amazing adventure,” wrote Bythewood on Instagram, sharing the news of the series’ end. “In our two seasons, we have launched careers, disrupted genre, brought forth humanity through our characters, told stories we care deeply about, revolutionized the way to shoot basketball, and had fun,” he wrote. He thanked “Kd, Brian, Rich, Imagine, and CBS Studios” for their trust. “Apple, while you are not ordering a season three, I made the show I wanted to make. Thank you for that,” he said toward the company. He went on to show his gratitude to the cast, writers, and crew while addressing the series’ fanbase and the industry. “For our FAMbase, you lifted us in ways we could have never imagined. To the industry, don’t take your foot off the gas.

Swagger will not be getting another season at Apple TV+.

The sports drama, inspired by NBA star Kevin Durant’s experiences as a kid, has been cancelled after two seasons at the streamer. Series creator Reggie Rock Bythewood shared the news of the cancellation on Instagram Thursday.

“What an amazing adventure. In our two seasons, we have launched careers, disrupted genre, brought forth humanity through our characters, told stories we care deeply about, revolutionized the way to shoot basketball and had fun,” he wrote.

He added: “Apple, while you are not ordering a season three, I made the show I wanted to make. Thank you for that. Cast, writers and crew, you have my gratitude. Walk off the set with Swagger. For our FAMbase, you lifted us in ways we could have never imagined. To the industry, don’t take your foot off the gas. Keep telling our stories.”

View...

“Swagger” has been canceled at Apple TV+ after two seasons.

Series creator Reggie Rock Bythewood shared the news with fans via Instagram. “What an amazing adventure,” he wrote. “In our two seasons, we have launched careers, disrupted genre, brought forth humanity through our characters, told stories we care deeply about, revolutionized the way to shoot basketball and had fun.”

Bythewood went on to thank the creative team behind the show as well as producer CBS Studios. “Apple, while you are not ordering a season three, I made the show I wanted to make. Thank you for that,” he continued.

“For our FAMbase, you lifted us in ways we could have never imagined. To the industry, don’t take your foot off the gas. Keep telling our stories,” he concluded.

“Swagger” is inspired by the life of NBA star Kevin Durant, who serves as an executive producer on the series. The...

Apple TV+ has canceled its drama series Swagger after two seasons.

The series about a high school basketball star (played by Isaiah Hill) and his journey through the world of youth hoops is loosely inspired by the life of NBA star Kevin Durant, who’s an executive producer. The cancellation comes a few months after season two’s final episode streamed in August.

Series creator, showrunner and director Reggie Rock Bythewood shared the news of Swagger’s end on Instagram. “What an amazing adventure. In our two seasons, we have launched careers, disrupted genre, brought forth humanity through our characters, told stories we care deeply about, revolutionized the way to shoot basketball and had fun. That’s a blessing,” he wrote.

After thanking fellow executive producers Durant, Brian Grazer and Rich Kleiman and producers Imagine Television and CBS Studios, Bythewood added, “Apple, while you are not ordering a season three,...

It’s been 30 years since Winifred Sanderson and her sisters put a spell on fans, and “Hocus Pocus” remains a Halloween classic. So, what are the witchy women up to these days? What about the kids they tormented? Well, at least when it comes to the latter, they aren’t kids anymore.

In fact, you can catch most of them at fan conventions across the country when they aren’t on-screen. Vinessa Shaw, Omri Katz, Thora Birch and Jason Marsden have reunited more than a few times at events in the last few years, as “Hocus Pocus” found its cult following later in its life cycle.

As for the Sanderson sisters, well, they’re obviously still hard at work in Hollywood too. In fact, they just reunited last year for “Hocus Pocus 2” on Disney+.

You can see what the ‘Hocus Pocus” cast looks like now in the photos below.

Prime Video Latin America has snapped up streaming rights to Katina Medina Mora’s latest film “Latido” (“Heartbeat”), starring Oscar-nominated Marina de Tavira (“Roma”).

This is the third feature from Medina Mora, whose credits include episodes of Netflix hit “Emily in Paris,” Apple TV+’s “Swagger” and romantic drama, “LuTo,” her debut feature picked up by Netflix. Its trailer debuts exclusively on Variety.

“Latido,” which has its world premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival and its Mexican premiere at the Morelia Film Festival, turns on 45-year-old Leonor, played by De Tavira, who works for an Ngo that supports young athletes. Leonor has struggled for years to conceive. She meets 16-year-old Emilia, a gifted ballet dancer, played by Camila Calónico, who aces her audition but whose world falls apart when she finds out she is pregnant. Leonor and Emilia make a pact to share the pregnancy process. What starts as...

Mexico’s Katina Medina Mora, director of Netflix hits ‘Emily in Paris’ and ‘Firefly Lane’ and Apple TV+ standout “Swagger,” is teaming with Chile’s Julio Rojas, creator of podcast phenom “Caso 63,” to direct and co-write with Rojas “Freeland.”

Medina Mora, Rojas and “Freeland” producer Nestor Hernández, a former Sony and HBO development exec for Latin America, will attend the San Sebastian Film Festival, which kicks off on Sept. 22, to present the project.

Longtime MadAvenue PR director Eva Herrero will also serve as an executive producer on the film.

One of the most ambitious movies now in the works from Latin America and Spain, “Freeland” is set in America’s Midwest, and combines a teen first love romantic drama, a building thriller propulsion and the kind of anticipatory near future science fiction for which Rojas is hailed as a master.

Sparking a successful U.S. podcast remake starring Julianne Moore and Oscar Isaac,...

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty may have just returned to HBO with even more stylistic excess, but if any sports drama should be holding court on TV, it’s Reggie Rock Bythewood’s Swagger. The series, which wrapped its second season on August 11, has as much flair as heart, pairing gripping basketball scenes with moments that emphasize the importance of community, especially for rising stars like Jace Carson (Isaiah Hill).

Swagger is an Apple TV+ drama series. The Sports drama is loosely inspired by the life of NBA player Kevin Durant’s experiences as he aims to enter the world of basketball. The series will try to explore the world of youth basketball from both a collective and an individual perspective, both on and off the court. The series will also tackle issues like the ambitions and dreams of aspiring professional players and their relationship with their coaches, their families, and the society they grew up in. Swagger is currently airing its second season and if you like it so far here are some shows you could watch after Season 2 while waiting for Season 3.

All American (Netflix) Credit – The CW

Synopsis: Spencer James is a rising high school football player and A student at South Crenshaw High. Compton is the place he calls home. But when Beverly High School’s...

Where to Watch Powered by Swagger season 2 surpasses its strong first season, going deeper into the lives of its characters and exploring larger social themes. The clip from episode 7 showcases the emotional and physical challenges that the sport of basketball presents to its characters. Seeds are being planted for Jace's future both romantically and as a career-driven basketball player, hinting at potential storylines for season 3.

The Apple TV+ sports drama Swagger is deep into its second season which, by many accounts, has surpassed the show’s strong first outing in several ways. Loosely based on the life of NBA superstar Kevin Durant, Swagger was dubbed “one of the best new series of the year” by The Hollywood Reporter when its first season debuted in 2021. In season 2, the show dives deeper into the lives of its characters and its exploration of larger social themes and struggles alike. The show is a...

Orlando Jones was all smiles when we caught up with him about his new movie, Til Death Do Us Part. He jokes that, though the movie is very different from the major box office hits in theaters now like Barbie and Oppenheimer, Til Death Do Us Part is a fun film to add to your watch list.

The film follows a bride as she runs away from her wedding, and a lifestyle she wants to leave behind. However, that just won't do, and the best man and groomsmen go after her, determined to bring her back. What starts as a retrieval mission turns into a bloodbath as the bride and men fight to the death.

MovieWeb had the opportunity to speak with Orlando Jones to hear his thoughts about creating his character and working with co-star Natalie Burn.

Orlando Jones on Creating His Character

Jones plays one of the groomsmen.

In our Q&a series Popsugar Crush, we get to know some of our favorite celebs' more intimate details - from their signature scent to their perfect date night. This month, we're crushing on "The Chi" star Luke James.

Luke James loves a challenge. That much is evident from the singer-actor's accomplished onscreen career. From portraying music icon Johnny Gill in BET's "The New Edition Story" to R&b bad boy Noah Brooks in Fox's hit musical series "Star," James has taken on a handful of roles through the years that have propelled him from an acting novice to a pro. One of his most notable roles to date is in Lena Waithe's "The Chi," the all-too-relatable Showtime drama that depicts the struggles of a group of South Side Chicago residents, all linked by coincidence but bonded by their common circumstances.

The show returns for its two-part sixth season,...

If there’s one thing married couple Floyd Rance and Stephanie Tavares-Rance know how to do, it’s keep a secret. Last year, on the eve of the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, its founders were tight-lipped about their 20th anniversary opening-night presenters. “I just told my mother,” says Tavares-Rance of the fact that Barack and Michelle Obama were on hand to screen their Higher Ground and Netflix documentary Descendant.

This year, the Rances face the unexpected of another kind, with the SAG-AFTRA strike beginning weeks before the Aug. 4-12 fest, which is preventing actors from promoting their projects. Says Tavares-Rance, with equanimity: “Celebrity is awesome — people love to see their favorite actor or actress on the stage, but it really is about these filmmakers of color, specifically African American filmmakers, that we want to highlight.”

Programming includes panels with the National Museum of African American...

Exclusive: Imagine Entertainment has struck a pre-emptive film rights deal for Whalefall, the next anticipated novel from best-selling author Daniel Kraus. The deal for the book option was reached ahead of its August 8 publication by MTV Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

Agreements of the sort are not frequently come upon these days, amid the SAG-AFTRA and the WGA strikes. The idea here is, of course, to develop Whalefall for the big screen, at the point when Hollywood is again back up and running. No development will be done and no writing services will be rendered here until new guild contracts are struck.

Already generating critical acclaim from early readers and immense buzz within the world of publishing, the book is described as The Martian meets 127 Hours. The story follows a scuba diver in search of his deceased father’s remains who gets swallowed by an 80-foot, 60-ton sperm...

Spoiler Alert: This contains spoilers from “Swagger” Season 2, now streaming on AppleTV+.

As Reggie Rock Bythewood was gearing up for AppleTV+’s second season of “Swagger,” the filmmaker was thinking about how to elevate the series and take it to another level.

One film that came to mind was Sam Mendes’ “1917” and how cinematographer Roger Deakins had shot the film and presented it as if it were one continuous long shot.

The series follows a team of basketball players inspired by NBA star Kevin Durant and in the latest “maze,” as Bythewood calls it, the team down to six players, Jace (Isaiah R. Hill), Phil (Solomon Irama), Musa (Caleel Harris), Drew, Royale (Ozie Nzeribe), and Nick (Jason Rivera) head to Maryland’s Youth Facility, a detention center for young offenders for a game. “I thought about ‘1917’ and the entire film is shot as if it were one shot.

When Apple TV+’s drama series Swagger came back for Season 2 over the last couple of weeks, fans were a little surprised to find out that the basketball show had jumped forward four years in time. Based on Season 1, we could tell that we were going to follow the trajectory of young players, but in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, series creator and writer Reggie Rock Bythewood (Shots Fired) explained that life forced him to go down a different path with the series...

When Francie Calfo, then-president of television at Imagine Entertainment, first reached out to Reggie Rock Bythewood to gauge his interest in the sports drama that would become Swagger, he wasn’t immediately on board.

“There was something really interesting happening during that time,” recalls Bythewood, the creator, writer, director and executive producer of the Apple TV+ series. “In that same week, two other people hit me about basketball projects. I was like, ‘What is in the air?’

Still, Bythewood was somewhat intrigued by the idea of a TV show loosely inspired by NBA star Kevin Durant’s youth basketball days. So, he took a 45-minute flight from Los Angeles to Oakland, California — where Durant was playing for the Golden State Warriors at the time — and met with the 6’10″ pro baller, who’s also an executive producer of the series. It was then that the filmmaker’s level of interest changed...

When viewers think of Apple TV+, they imagine its viewing experience and the quality of shows it frequently picks up, but what they fail to realize is that Apple TV+ has grown tremendously over time, and quantity may be one of their future ambitions. However, unlike Netflix, it is quite likely that the Apple streaming service will address the issue of quality loss, which reassures us, given the introduction of several outstanding TV series this year.

The preceding few months, in particular, have been extravagant for streamers, with continuous back-to-back hit TV shows like Silo, Platonic, Ted Lasso, and The Crowded Room with Tom Holland's stellar performance. Following the trend, the platform has opted to add a couple more intriguing titles to its library in July. So, here are the best TV series coming to Apple TV+ in July 2023.

The Crowded Room (Continuing)

Although The Crowded Room was far from a groundbreaking series,...

Apple TV+'s Swagger premiered in 2021 and revolves around an elite youth basketball club and, in particular, shines a light on Jace Carson, played by Isaiah Hill. The sports drama television series dives deep into the basketball world, the relationships between teammates, players, and coaches, and how the outside world can sometimes influence what happens on the court. Following a slew of positive reviews, the streaming service renewed the show for a second season in June 2022.

Swagger season 2 premiered a year later and is set to conclude in August 2023 after an eight-episode run. The series continues to explore the development of Jace's basketball career and the struggles of making it to the professional level despite his obvious talent. Of course, the Apple TV+ series also focuses on the other characters, but fans know that the real star is Jace. However, like many other sports shows and movies, some wonder if...

The Apple TV+ sports drama Swagger cast boasts an impressive array of talent. Inspired by the experiences of NBA legend Kevin Durant, the show provides a unique look at the machinations of youth basketball. With such an emphasis on team dynamics, it's little surprise that Swagger features such an extensive cast and character list. The show has been developed by writer, producer, and director Reggie Rock Bythewood with a focus on the sport away from the bright lights of the NBA.

Instead, the drama revolves around familial relationships and the struggle to break into the top tier of elite sport, as well as the roadblocks that inevitably get in the way. Swagger also focuses on the coaches as well as the players, whose ambitions often have a negative impact on their teams and willing young players. Swagger season 1 ran for 10 episodes in 2021 and the second season of Swagger for eight...

The Apple TV Plus original sports drama series Swagger impressed audiences during its first two seasons, but details of season 3 are slow to arrive. Debuting in 2021, the show follows an ensemble of characters who are swept up into the political world of youth basketball as they all vie for a future on the sport's grandest stage, the NBA. Swagger is loosely based on the real-life story of NBA player Kevin Durant, who also serves as an executive producer, and this gives the series a more realistic tone. Unlike other sports series, Swagger paints a clearer picture of what the life of an aspiring professional athlete is actually like.

Immediately met with glowing reviews, many critics praised Swagger's messaging and confidence which helped elevate it above the usual sports fare (via Rotten Tomatoes). Joining a long list of well-received original series on Apple TV Plus, Swagger is seen as Ted...

Isaiah Hill in “Swagger,” now streaming on Apple TV+. The first season of Swagger, the Apple TV+ series centered around youth basketball, wrapped shooting more than two years ago. But the show wasn’t renewed for its second season until just last summer. Creator/executive producer Reggie Rock Bythewood told us that the delay presented the production team with both a challenge and an opportunity for Season 2, since the show’s young actors were growing up, and the new season embraces that idea. (Click on the media bar below to hear Reggie Rock Bythewood) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Swagger_.mp3 Swagger is currently streaming on Apple TV+.

The post ‘Swagger’ Creator: Season 2 Delay Gave Us Better Stories appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.

The African American Film Critics Association will honor Jennifer Hudson, Delroy Lindo, Marla Gibbs, “Ted Lasso” and “S.W.A.T.” at the fifth annual Aafca TV Honors.

Hudson will receive the “We See You” Award, given to performers who demonstrate versatility in their work with consistent excellence in their craft. Delroy Lindo (“UnPrisoned”) will receive the “Legacy Award” presented to an artist or institution that inspires others to follow their path.

Marla Gibbs will receive the “Legend Ward” for changing the landscape of TV and Film.

The “Inclusion Award” will go to AppleTV+’s “Ted Lasso,” for its ability to “prioritize representation of people from all walks of life.” CBS’ “S.W.A.T.,” produced by Sony, will receive the “Impact Award” for its influential storylines and performances to the African American community.

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On July 19, the Aafca will also announce winners in 14 categories,...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including red carpets for No Hard Feelings, I’m a Virgo and Downey’s Dream Cars.

Downey’s Dream Cars premiere

Robert Downey Jr. made a rare red carpet appearance to debut his new Max series at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on June 16.

Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey

No Hard Feelings premiere

Jennifer Lawrence joined director Gene Stupnitsky and co-stars Andrew Feldman, Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, Hasan Minhaj, Kyle Mooney, Scott MacArthur, Zach McClarnon, Jordan Mendoza, Matthew Nozska, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Amalia Yoo at the New York premiere of their new comedy on Tuesday.

John Phillips, Laura Benanti, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Gene Stupnitsky, Natalie Morales, Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Feldman and Matthew Broderick Jennifer Lawrence and Andrew Feldman

I’m a Virgo premiere

Stars Jharrel Jerome, Brett Gray,...

In our Q&a series Popsugar Crush, we get to know some of our favorite celebs' more intimate details - from their signature scent to their idea of a perfect date night. This month, we're crushing on "Swagger" actor and singer Tristan Mack Wilds.

Tristan Mack Wilds has had quite the career. At 33 years old, the acclaimed actor and singer has checked plenty off his bucket list - from starring in notable TV shows, films, and a Broadway play to releasing a Grammy-nominated album and working with Adele. He also stars in Apple TV+'s "Swagger," which returned for its second season on June 23. We'd be here all day naming Wilds's many achievements, though his greatest, by far, are his two daughters, Tristyn and Naima, with wife Christina Wilds. Still, after a nearly 20-year career, the Hollywood veteran says, "I still feel very young in the game."

Wilds's years-long journey in...