After a turbulent year in the entertainment industry, Apple TV+ emerges from the strikes and uncertainty with a star-studded lineup of original and returning series for 2024! Today at the 2024 Winter Television Critics Association press tour, Apple TV+ shared a glimpse at new, original stories and returning hit series that will premiere globally in spring/summer 2024, including Presumed Innocent, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, and Sugar, the eight-episode drama starring Colin Farrell.

Coming up this year, Apple TV+ will expand its award-winning slate of originals with highly anticipated new series including “The New Look,” “The Dynasty: New England Patriots,” “Constellation,” “The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin,” “Manhunt,” “Palm Royale,” “Sugar,” “Franklin,” “Dark Matter,” “Presumed Innocent,” “Land of Women” and more.

Additionally, fans can look forward to new seasons of widely celebrated titles such as “Loot,” “The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy,” “The Big Door Prize,” “Acapulco,” “Trying” and even more beloved originals from Peanuts for the whole family to enjoy.

“Today, we are elated to be unveiling so many brilliant new stories and characters for audiences to fall in love with in 2024,” said Matt Cherniss, head of domestic programming at Apple TV+. “These compelling series all reflect Apple’s dedication to crafting stories that not only entertain but reflect the richness of our shared human experience, foster a sense of understanding and spark cultural conversations around the world. We can’t wait for everyone to experience what we have in store.”

Here’s a few highlights from Apple’s presentation for content coming to the platform in 2024:

“Presumed Innocent”

Premiere date: Friday, June 14

Presumed Innocent is a new eight-episode limited series starring and executive produced by Jake Gyllenhaal, hailing from David E. Kelley and executive producer J.J. Abrams, and is based on The New York Times bestselling novel of the same name by Scott Turow. The new thriller will make its global debut on Apple TV+, premiering the first two episodes on Friday, June 14, followed by a new episode every Friday through July 26.

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role of chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich, the series takes viewers on a gripping journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office when one of its own is suspected of the crime. The series explores obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together. The star-studded ensemble cast of the new thriller also includes Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, Elizabeth Marvel, Peter Sarsgaard, O-T Fagbenle, and Renate Reinsve.

The series hails from Bad Robot Productions and David E. Kelley Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, where Bad Robot is under an overall deal. Abrams and Rachel Rusch Rich executive produce for Bad Robot. Kelley serves as showrunner and executive produces through David E. Kelley Productions alongside Matthew Tinker. Dustin Thomason, Sharr White and Gyllenhaal also serve as executive producers. Turow and Miki Johnson will serve as co-executive producers. Anne Sewitsky serves as executive producer and directs the first two episodes and episode eight. Emmy Award-winning director Greg Yaitanes is an executive producer and directs episodes three through seven.

“Sugar”

Premiere date: Friday, April 5

A new eight-episode drama starring Colin Farrell will debut globally with the first three episodes on Friday, April 5, 2024, on Apple TV+, followed by one new episode weekly every Friday. “Sugar” is a contemporary, unique take on one of the most popular and significant genres in literary, motion picture, and television history: the private detective story. 

Academy Award-nominee Colin Farrell stars as John Sugar, an American private investigator on the heels of the mysterious disappearance of Olivia Siegel, the beloved granddaughter of legendary Hollywood producer Jonathan Siegel. As Sugar tries to determine what happened to Olivia, he will also unearth Siegel family secrets; some very recent, others long-buried.

The series also stars Kirby, Amy Ryan, James Cromwell, Anna Gunn, Dennis Boutsikaris, Nate Corddry, Sydney Chandler, and Alex Hernandez.

Sugar is created by Mark Protosevich who also executive produces. Audrey Chon and Kinberg executive produce for Genre Films, marking their second series with Apple TV+ under Kinberg’s overall deal, following “Invasion.” Sam Catlin, Scott Greenberg and Chip Vucelich also serve as executive producers. The series was directed by Fernando Meirelles, who also executive produces, and Adam Arkin.

“Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin”

Premiere date: Friday, February 16

The origin story for one of Peanuts’ most beloved characters, Franklin, follows how he approaches making new friends. Franklin’s family is always on the move with his dad’s military job, and everywhere he goes Franklin finds support in a notebook filled with his grandfather’s advice on friendship. But when Franklin tries his usual strategies with the Peanuts gang, he has trouble fitting in. That’s until he learns about the neighbourhood Soap Box Derby race – according to his grandfather, everyone loves a winner! He’s sure that winning the race will also mean winning over some new friends. All he needs is a partner, which he finds in Charlie Brown. Franklin and Charlie Brown work together to build a car and in the process become good buddies. But as the race nears, the pressure mounts – can their car and their newfound friendship make it to the finish line?

“Constellation”

Premiere date: Wednesday, February 21

A new, eight-part conspiracy-based psychological thriller starring Noomi Rapace and Emmy Award nominee Jonathan Banks that will premiere globally on Wednesday, February 21, 2024 with the first three episodes, followed by one episode weekly, every Wednesday through March 27 on Apple TV+.  

Created and written by Peter Harness, “Constellation” stars Rapace as Jo – an astronaut who returns to Earth after a disaster in space – only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing. The action-packed space adventure is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, and one woman’s desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and recover all that she has lost. The series also stars James D’Arcy, Julian Looman, Will Catlett, Barbara Sukowa, and introduces Rosie and Davina Coleman as Alice. 

“The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy” – Season Two

Premiere date: Friday, March 8

After confronting some of his long-held fears in season one, Emmy Award winner Eugene Levy steps out of his comfort zone once again. This time, he’s embarking on a ‘must do’ journey for any respectable globetrotter – a grand tour of Europe. The seven-part second season of the acclaimed country-hopping travel series follows Levy as he makes his way from the very north of the continent to the very south. Along the way, he unearths stunning hidden local gems, discovers his family tree and attempts to broaden his taste buds while experiencing the region’s most unique destinations along the way. Join him as he goes on the trip of a lifetime he never knew he needed.

This season, Levy ventures even further off the beaten path, inspired to experience local practices and global escapades with friends both new and old, including preparing for Midsummer in Swedish tradition with a moose tracking adventure, visiting for the first time the land of his mother’s childhood – Scotland, dining with a luminary and taking a bite out of French cuisine in Saint-Tropez, embracing wellness with a ‘hay bath’ under German thatched roofs on the island of Sylt, voyaging on a Greek fishing expedition around Milos, learning medieval customs and harvesting grapes in Italy and playing soccer with a Spanish international player in Seville, Spain.

“Palm Royale”

Premiere date: Wednesday, March 20

“Palm Royale” is the highly anticipated Palm Beach-set series starring and executive produced by Emmy and Academy Award nominee Kristen Wiig, who leads a renowned ensemble cast that includes Oscar and Emmy winners Laura Dern and Allison Janney, alongside Ricky Martin, Josh Lucas, Leslie Bibb, Amber Chardae Robinson, Mindy Cohn, Julia Duffy and Kaia Gerber. With extra special guest star turns by the legendary Bruce Dern and the iconic, multiple-award winning Carol Burnett, “Palm Royale” makes its global debut on Apple TV+, premiering the first three episodes on March 20, 2024 followed by new episodes every Wednesday through May 8.

“Palm Royale” is a true underdog story that follows Maxine Simmons (Wiig) as she endeavours to break into Palm Beach high society. As Maxine attempts to cross that impermeable line between the haves and the have-nots, “Palm Royale” asks the same question that still baffles us today: “How much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice to get what someone else has?” Set during the powder keg year of 1969, “Palm Royale” is a testament to every outsider fighting for their chance to truly belong.

Loosely based on the novel “Mr. and Mrs. American Pie” by Juliet McDaniel and produced for Apple TV+ by Apple Studios, “Palm Royale” is written, executive produced and showrun by Abe Sylvia for Aunt Sylvia’s Moving Picture Company, executive produced by Laura Dern and Jayme Lemons for Jaywalker Pictures, Kristen Wiig, Katie O’Connell Marsh, Tate Taylor and John Norris for Wyolah Films, Sharr White, Sheri Holman and Boat Rocker. The series is directed by Taylor, Sylvia, Claire Scanlon and Stephanie Laing.

“Loot” – Season Two

Premiere date: Wednesday, April 3

Season two of “Loot,” the laugh out loud comedy starring and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Maya Rudolph, will premiere on Wednesday, April 3 on Apple TV+. Starring Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Nat Faxon, Ron Funches and Joel Kim Booster, “Loot” season two will debut with two episodes followed by new episodes every Wednesday through May 29. Apple is excited to share first look images from the upcoming season today.

“Loot” returns for season two a year after Molly Wells’ (Maya Rudolph) very public divorce from tech billionaire John Novak (Adam Scott), where we find her thriving in her role as the head of her philanthropic organization the Wells Foundation. Focused mainly on her charity work, Molly has sworn off any new relationships with any new men. Fabulously single but not particularly independent, Molly’s trusty assistant Nicholas (Joel Kim Booster) remains by her side, diligently catering to her every whim…and occasionally feeding her a kale smoothie spiked with gin. 

Sofia Salinas (Michaela Jae Rodriquez), the no-nonsense executive director of the foundation, continues to run the Wells Foundation with compassionate efficiency, but her all-business ethos is thrown for a loop when she meets Molly’s charismatic architect friend Isaac (O-T Fagbenle). The bromance between Howard (Ron Funches) and Nicholas also continues to flourish as they support each other in their endeavours both inside and outside the workplace. Meanwhile Arthur (Nat Faxon) has moved past his feelings for Molly and announced he has a new devil-may-care attitude on life, a change encapsulated by a very very lame leather bracelet. The Wells Foundation team, including Rhonda (Meagen Fay) and Ainsley (Stephanie Styles), must pull together as co-workers and friends as Molly strives to publicly live up to her promise of giving away all of her vast fortune.

“Franklin”

Premiere date: Friday, April 12

“Franklin,” a new limited series starring and executive produced by Academy, Emmy and AFI Lifetime Achievement Award winner Michael Douglas, will premiere globally on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes of its eight-episode season on Friday, April 12, followed by one new episode every Friday through May 17, 2024. 

Based on Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff’s book, “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America,” “Franklin” explores the thrilling story of the greatest gamble of Benjamin Franklin’s career. In December 1776, Franklin is world famous for his electrical experiments, but his passion and power are put to the test when – as the fate of American independence hangs in the balance – he embarks on a secret mission to France.

At age 70, without any diplomatic training, Franklin convinced an absolute monarchy to underwrite America’s experiment in democracy. By virtue of his fame, charisma and ingenuity, Franklin outmaneuvered British spies, French informers and hostile colleagues to engineer the Franco-American alliance of 1778 and the peace treaty with England in 1783. The eight-year French mission stands as Franklin’s most vital service to his country, without which America could not have won the Revolution. Diplomats and historians still regard it as the greatest single tour of duty by an ambassador in our nation’s history.

The drama also stars Noah Jupe as Temple Franklin, Thibault de Montalembert as Comte de Vergennes, Daniel Mays as Edward Bancroft, Ludivine Sagnier as Madame Brillon, Eddie Marsan as John Adams, Assaad Bouab as Beaumarchais, Jeanne Balibar as Madame Helvetius and Theodore Pellerin as Marquis de Lafayette.

In addition to Douglas, the creative team includes Emmy and WGA Award-winning writer and executive producer Kirk Ellis (“John Adams”) and Emmy, WGA and Pulitzer Prize Award-nominated writer and executive producer Howard Korder (“Boardwalk Empire”). Emmy and DGA Award-winning director Tim Van Patten (“Masters of the Air,” “The Sopranos”) serves as director and executive producer. Richard Plepler executive produces through EDEN Productions, Tony Krantz through Flame Ventures, and Philippe Maigret and Mark Mostyn also executive produce. Stacy Schiff also serves as co-executive producer. “Franklin” is a co-production between ITV Studios America and Apple Studios.

“Dark Matter”

Premiere date: Wednesday, May 8

“Dark Matter” is a sci-fi thriller series based on the blockbuster book by acclaimed, bestselling author Blake Crouch. The nine-episode series features an ensemble cast that includes Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga, Jimmi Simpson, Dayo Okeniyi and Oakes Fegley. “Dark Matter” makes its global debut on Apple TV+ on May 8, 2024, premiering with the first two episodes, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through June 26. 

Hailed as one of the best sci-fi novels of the decade, “Dark Matter” is a story about the road not taken. The series will follow Jason Dessen (played by Edgerton), a physicist, professor, and family man who — one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago — is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the mind-bending landscape of lives he could have lived. In this labyrinth of realities, he embarks on a harrowing journey to get back to his true family and save them from the most terrifying, unbeatable foe imaginable: himself.

Prestige TV is alive and well at Apple TV+! The amount of intriguing series coming to Apple TV+ in 2024 borders on intimidating. I am still determining where I’ll find the time to check out everything I want to watch. What are you excited to watch on Apple TV+ in 2024? Let us know in the comments below, and watch the trailer for more previews!

The post Apple TV+ 2024 Preview includes sneak peeks at Presumed Innocent, Sugar, and more appeared first on JoBlo.

Production for The Night Agent Season 2 is underway! After an extended wait for new episodes of Netflix‘s hit thriller series to kick into high gear, fans can start their anticipation engines for a follow-up to the first season’s stunning cliffhanger. Cameras are rolling in New York City, with additional filming happening in Thailand and Washington D.C. The Night Agent, starring Gabriel Basso, Luciane Buchanan, Hong Chau, and Eve Harlow, is a chart-topping Netflix series with an astounding 168,710,000 hours in viewership.

In addition to the stars mentioned above, Fola Evans-Akinbola, Sarah Desjardins, D.B. Woodside, Phoenix Raei, and Enrique Murchiano also star as primary characters, with Amanda Warren, Arienne Mandi, Louis Herthum, Berto Colon, Brittany Snow, and Teddy Sears joining the sophomore season.

Based on the novel by Matthew Quirk, The Night Agent is “a sophisticated, character-based, action-thriller centering on a low level FBI Agent who works in the basement of the White House, manning a phone that never rings — until the night that it does, propelling him into a fast moving and dangerous conspiracy that ultimately leads all the way to the Oval Office.”

Netflix gave a Season 2 renewal to The Night Agent almost immediately after the success of the first installment. The green light started shining in March last year, but then the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes happened, and Netflix delayed production for The Night Agent Season 2. Cameras will roll with the strikes in Hollywood’s rearview, and fans can start getting excited about the next thrilling chapter of the intense thriller.

When Netflix renewed The Night Agent in March 2023, creator and showrunner Shawn Ryan said: “The last week has been a whirlwind as we’ve finally been able to share The Night Agent with the world. To see the tremendous reaction to the show has been a great joy and is a credit to our cast, our writers, our directors, our crew and our partners at Sony Pictures Television and Netflix. We couldn’t be any prouder or more excited to get cracking on Season 2 to share the further adventures of Night Action with our newfound fans.” 

Jinny Howe, Netflix’s VP of Drama Series, added, “We’re proud to see The Night Agent deliver a breakout performance and become instantly embraced around the world. Shawn Ryan has created a spy thriller sensation that viewers cannot get enough of, with a stellar cast featuring Gabriel Basso, Luciane Buchanan and Hong Chau, and we’re here to bring them more of the action and suspense they love.”

I enjoyed The Night Agent and look forward to Season 2, which builds on the show’s mystery, deception, and steamy character chemistry. How about you? Are you excited about The Night Agent Season 2? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post The Night Agent: Production for Season 2 of Netflix’s thriller series is finally underway appeared first on JoBlo.

There have been numerous takes on Mary Shelley’s classic tale Frankenstein. The latest of which offers up a script by Diablo Cody, and terrific performances from Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton. Zelda Williams takes on the directorial duties of Lisa Frankenstein. It tells the tale of a young outcast who manages to bring the dead to life, but without a few necessary body parts. The film also features a lively performance from Carla Gugino as well as Liza Soberano. Lisa Frankenstein opens this Friday at a theatre near you.

Recently, I spoke to both Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse. Having spoken to the very talented Ms. Newton before, it was terrific sitting across from her and her co-star. Cole impressed me with his love of horror and his admiration for the classic movie monsters. He discussed his chance to play his own take on the classics. As for Kathryn, she talked about taking on a script by Diablo Cody, and working opposite Mr. Sprouse. The two are fantastic together in the film, and even in the interview.

Next up, we spoke with Zelda Williams and Diablo Cody. It’s hard to sit across from Ms. Cody and not realize what an important figure she has been in cinema. And thankfully she was a joy to speak with, as was Ms. Williams. I asked Diablo how much of an impact Mary Shelley had on her. As for Ms. Williams, she talked about taking on the project, and both discussed the influences behind the film.

The post Interview: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Diablo Cody & Zelda Williams Talk Lisa Frankenstein appeared first on JoBlo.

There have been numerous takes on Mary Shelley’s classic tale Frankenstein. The latest of which offers up a script by Diablo Cody, and terrific performances from Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton. Zelda Williams takes on the directorial duties of Lisa Frankenstein. It tells the tale of a young outcast who manages to bring the dead to life, but without a few necessary body parts. The film also features a lively performance from Carla Gugino as well as Liza Soberano. Lisa Frankenstein opens this Friday at a theatre near you.

Recently, I spoke to both Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse. Having spoken to the very talented Ms. Newton before, it was terrific sitting across from her and her co-star. Cole impressed me with his love of horror and his admiration for the classic movie monsters. He discussed his chance to play his own take on the classics. As for Kathryn, she talked about taking on a script by Diablo Cody, and working opposite Mr. Sprouse. The two are fantastic together in the film, and even in the interview.

Next up, we spoke with Zelda Williams and Diablo Cody. It’s hard to sit across from Ms. Cody and not realize what an important figure she has been in cinema. And thankfully she was a joy to speak with, as was Ms. Williams. I asked Diablo how much of an impact Mary Shelley had on her. As for Ms. Williams, she talked about taking on the project, and both discussed the influences behind the film.

The post Interview: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Diablo Cody & Zelda Williams Talk Lisa Frankenstein appeared first on JoBlo.

Netflix is ready to show you no mercy with the final chapter of the original Karate Kid universe as Cobra Kai gears up for season six. The popular series would suffer a bit of a delay when the dual strikes from the writers and actors brought Hollywood to a standstill, but like Mr. Miyagi’s secret method of healing injuries, the cast and crew rigorously rubbed their palms together to set the wounds and get back into the fight. The show is celebrating by releasing a video that commences the production of the final season, with the cast trying their best to contain their excitement and not give away any spoilers.

The ensemble cast for season six includes Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Martin Kove, Xolo Maridueña, Jacob Bertrand, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Peyton List, Gianni DeCenzo, Courtney Henggeler, Vanessa Rubio, Dallas Dupree Young, Yuji Okumoto, Alicia Hannah-Kim, Griffin Santopietro and Oona O’Brien.

Cobra Kai is written and executive produced by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg via their production company, Counterbalance Entertainment. Will Smith, James Lassiter and Caleeb Pinkett executive produce for Westbrook Entertainment along with Susan Ekins in association with Sony Pictures Television. Ralph Macchio and William Zabka also serve as executive producers.

The executive producers — Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg — would write a formal letter to the fans preparing them, thanking them and teasing them about the final season. In the letter, they write, “Our day one goal with Cobra Kai has always been to end ti on our terms, leaving the Valley in the time and place we’ve always imagined. So it is with immense pride and thankfulness that we are able to announce that achievement. The upcoming Season Six wil mark the conclusion of Cobra Kai.

While this may be a bittersweet day for the fandom, the Miyagiverse has never been stronger. This fandom is the BEST on the planet and we hope to be telling more Karate Kid stories with you down the line. Because as we al know, Cobra Kai Never Dies.”

Then, the letter concludes with the enthusiastic statement, “In the meantime, strap in for the BIGGEST SEASON OF COBRA KAI YET.”

The post Cobra Kai strikes fast and strikes hard with a video announcing the commencement of season 6 appeared first on JoBlo.

The latest film in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise – a movie simply titled Texas Chainsaw Massacre – was released through the Netflix streaming service back in February of 2022, and it appeared to do well at the time. It was the second most viewed movie on the service during the February 14 to February 20 time period – which only covered its first three days of release. In those three days, Netflix subscribers streamed the film for a total of 29.18 million hours. Texas Chainsaw Massacre also ranked in the top 10 in 94 countries, reaching #1 on the daily lists in the United States, Bolivia, Brazil, Honduras, Oman, Philippines, and Saudi Arabia. Just a few months later, we heard a rumor that Netflix had ordered two more Chainsaw movies. Now industry scooper Daniel Richtman reports that a new sequel called Texas Chainsaw Legacy is in the works – and while it’s not clear if this is indeed a Netflix production, Richtman did spill some plot details.

According to Richtman, Texas Chainsaw Legacy will tell the following story (with thanks to Geeks Vibe Nation for sharing the synopsis): TEXAS CHAINSAW LEGACY delves into the tranquil facade of Oasis Oaks, a gated community nestled in rural Texas. Amidst the meticulously manicured lawns and vigilant security patrols, our protagonist family epitomizes suburban bliss. However, lurking just beyond the confines of this idyllic enclave lies an abandoned property, home to the infamous Leatherface and his macabre kin. As chaos descends upon Oasis Oaks, ordinary families are pitted against the savage Sawyers in a harrowing battle for survival, where the lines between good and evil blur in a chilling confrontation of familial horrors.

That sounds like a good time to me. I’m always on board to watch a new Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie, and I like the sound of this one. For one thing, it’s good to hear that Leatherface is going to be accompanied by some “macabre kin” this time around, since he went solo in Texas Chainsaw 3D and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I also like that this isn’t another story about people on a road trip wandering into trouble, because there needs to be more Chainsaw movies that don’t involve road trippers. 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, so here’s hoping they can get Texas Chainsaw Legacy through production and out into the world before the end of the year.

How does Texas Chainsaw Legacy sound to you? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Texas Chainsaw Legacy: Leatherface raids a gated community in the new sequel appeared first on JoBlo.

Plans have been in development for a prequel series to the Starz hit, Outlander, and as the show got the season eight renewal, the network would almost simultaneously greenlight the prequel show. Now, Blood of My Blood is announcing its new cast of actors. The premium movie network has confirmed that the prequel will follow the parents of both Jamie and Claire. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Blood of My Blood has started filming in Scotland.

The main cast that have been announced include Harriet Slater, seen in Pennyworth, and Jamie Roy, known for Lifetime’s Your Boyfriend Is Mine), who will play Ellen MacKenzie and Brian Fraser, and will eventually become Jamie’s parents in 18th century Scotland. Additionally, Hermione Corfield, whose credits include We Hunt Together, and Jeremy Irvine who was featured in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, are on board to play Julia Moriston and Henry Beauchamp, Claire’s parents, whose story unfolds in World War I-era England.

The showrunner of both Outlander and Blood of My Blood, Matthew B. Roberts, shared his excitement about his upcoming projects, “We’re thrilled to be telling the stories of these two couples. The origins of their relationships explore universal themes that transcend time periods, and we’re so excited for fans to discover and fall in love with these characters and their love stories the way they have with Claire and Jamie.”

Blood of my Blood is based on the novel by Diana Gabaldon. Roberts had previously said, “Outlander: Blood of My Blood is, at its heart, a love story. It will explore what lengths a person will go to find love in a time when love is considered a luxury, and when marriages are made strategically, often for political or financial gain. The title is a nod to Jamie Fraser’s marriage vow to Claire and there will be several names and faces that Outlander fans will know and recognize. Jamie and Claire’s TV story may be coming to an end with season eight, but Diana is continuing on with their literary journey in her wonderful book series and is working diligently on book ten. With Jamie and Claire, and now Brian and Ellen, there is still so much more to come in the Outlander universe, and we cannot wait to continue sharing these stories with our dedicated fans.“

The post Blood of My Blood: Outlander prequel reveals its new cast appeared first on JoBlo.

I have this really bad habit when I watch new shows. I am always late to the party. It happens all the time. I watch a pilot of a TV show, write it off and then years later I find out it’s an incredible piece of work. Community, Brooklyn 99, Superstore, and Babylon 5 are a few that come to mind. It’s frustrating because I miss out on so much fun, like talking to other fans about the show, conventions, and fun marketing. Sure, you can still do many of these things after the show but, like a fresh slice of pizza, it always tastes better fresh out of the oven. Fringe is another slice that I have had to microwave. The series followed a quirky scientist, an estranged criminal son, and a badass FBI agent on some dark and fascinating twists and turns. These would involve alternate dimensions, time travel, and a cow.  

The show is tragically underrated and sometimes gets lost in the shuffle.  But is Fringe as special as many fans claim it is? Or was my original opinion of Fringe being yet another X-Files knockoff correct? Luckily you have me to serve you a fresh slice of awesome, in this episode of Gone But Not Forgotten.

Fringe was created by J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci. All three had been friends for years, Kurtzman and Orci were a writing team behind many big hits on the big and small screen. They met in high school and became close friends. After many years of writing together, they wound up writing a few scripts for Hercules The Legendary Journeys. In a year they became the head writers of the show, and eventually, they would meet and work with J.J Abrams on Alias. Soon their career grew and they now have been behind many huge films and TV shows. I will be honest though, many of them are on my worst film and TV properties list, no judgment to any of you who love these properties, I just didn’t take to them.  These were the Michael Bay Transformers films, The Tom Cruise Mummy remake, The Legend of Zorro, Star Trek Discovery, and Amazing Spider-Man 2 are just a few examples. Kurtzman was a creator of Star Trek Strange New Worlds, so that’s a win in my book. 

While working on Alias J.J., Alex and Roberto would talk about their favorite sci-fi films. They had conversations for hours about their love for shows and movies like, X-Files, Twilight Zone, and Altered States. After his involvement with Lost ended J.J. wanted to move on to another project. He remembered the discussions he had with Kurtzman and Orci in the past about their love for Sci-fi. Longtime producer Bryan Burk was also brought in to help out. They all agreed they wanted to see a TV show that would incorporate their love for weird science fiction. J.J’s original idea for the name of the show was “The Lab”. In this episode of Gone But Not Forgotten, we dig into one of the biggest cult hits in recent memory and a show that’s designed for a binge watch (or two)

The post Fringe (2008-2013): Gone But Not Forgotten appeared first on JoBlo.

As soon as Saw X, the tenth entry in the Saw franchise (you can read our review HERE), was released last September, franchise producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules were already talking about the potential of a Saw XI. The official announcement came in December, along with the reveal that the film will be reaching theatres on September 27th. Saw X screenwriters Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg (who also wrote Jigsaw and Spiral: From the Book of Saw) have let it be known that they’re not coming back for the new sequel – but our friends at Bloody Disgusting have learned that Saw X director Kevin Greutert will be back at the helm for Saw XI.

Greutert edited the first five Saw movies, and did the same on Jigsaw. He made his feature directorial debut with Saw VI and signed on to direct Paranormal Activity 2 after that. That movie was scheduled to be released on the same day as the seventh Saw movie, Saw 3D – so Lionsgate decided to remove Saw V director David Hackl from Saw 3D and replace him with Greutert, stealing him away from Paramount and Paranormal Activity 2. The Paranormal sequel ended up being directed by Tod Williams and was released the week before Saw 3D.

Between Saw 3D and Saw X, Greutert directed the genre films Jessabelle, Visions, and Jackals.

Now we know who’s directing Saw XI, but we still don’t know who’s writing the film. Leigh Whannell wrote the first three films, sharing story credit with James Wan on the first and third and screenplay credit with Darren Lynn Bousman on the second. The writing duo of Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan took over for parts 4 through 7 (with Thomas Fenton also getting a story credit on Saw IV). Then we reached the Goldfinger/Stolberg era.

Are you a fan of the Saw franchise? What do you think of Kevin Greutert coming back to direct Saw XI? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Saw VI and Saw X are two of the most popular sequels in the franchise (Saw 3D, not so much), so I suspect a lot of fans are going to be glad to know Greutert is coming back.

The post Saw X director Kevin Greutert is back at the helm for Saw XI appeared first on JoBlo.

Four and a half years have passed since Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige announced that a new Blade was in the works, with Mahershala Ali (Leave the World Behind) on board to play the title character. It has been a bumpy ride for the project ever since. It has passed through the hands of multiple screenwriters – Stacy Osei-Kuffour (PEN15), Michael Starrbury (When They See Us), True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto, Beau DeMayo (The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf). It had a director in Bassam Tariq (Mogul Mowgli). Tariq cast Delroy Lindo (Get Shorty) and Aaron Pierre (Old) alongside Ali – then he dropped out due to “scheduling issues”, and the character Pierre would have been playing was apparently written out of the story. Yann Demange (White Boy Rick) signed on to direct the film, Mia Goth (Pearl) was cast, possibly as the villain Lilith, and Blade was just weeks away from filming when the production had to be delayed due to the writers strike, followed by the actors strike. Once the writers strike ended, Michael Green (Logan) was hired to work on a fresh draft of the script. Now the project seems to be rolling toward production again – and industry scooper Daniel Richtman has revealed some details. According to his Patreon report, Blade is an R-rated period piece that will tell the story of “Lilith going after Blade’s daughter’s blood to create an army of Daywalkers.” Lilith’s weapon will apparently be the Ebony Blade, which was previously featured in Eternals.

Exactly what year Blade will be set in to make it a period piece has not been revealed. Eternals did tell us that the Ebony Blade had made its way to the Dane Whitman character as of 2024 – and when Whitman was checking it out at the end of that film, Ali made a vocal cameo as Blade to ask him, “Sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?”

Demange had confirmed the R-rating to Deadline a few months ago, saying, “They gave me the R, which is so important. … We are going to have fun, because Mahershala is such a deep actor. I’m excited to show a kind of ruthlessness, a roughness he has, that allows him to walk the earth in a particular way. I love him for that. He’s got a dignity and integrity, but there is a ferocity there that he usually keeps under the surface. I want to unleash that and put it on the screen.”

It has been said that Blade is going to have a budget that’s somewhere under $100 million, so that could be why Marvel Studios and Disney feel safe letting it have an R rating.

What do you think about Blade being an R-rated period piece – and what are you thoughts on that rumored Lilith scheme? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Blade: MCU movie is an R-rated period piece with Lilith as the villain appeared first on JoBlo.