'Daily Show' to borrow from 'SNL?'

And a big '90s hit could get a sequel

What to know

• Twister sequel is taking shape… It’s had to understate how big Twister was in the ‘90s. People were obsessed with it. It made $500M domestic. The flying cow became a cultural meme. And then somewhere in the 2000s, it faded from memory. These days, Hollywood is too desperate to leave any big IP on the table, so natch, Twisters is in the works. What was previously being developed as a reboot will now be a direct sequel focused on Helen Hunt’s character and her daughter. The only problem? Helen Hunt has yet to sign on. Better get on that. 🌪

• The Daily Show considers rotating, team hosts… Trevor Noah is out Dec. 8 and one replacement proposition is a committee of hosts, potentially pulled from the show’s stable of correspondents. Roy Wood Jr. and Desi Lydic could reportedly co-host a la SNL’s Weekend Update. This would definitely be a new, fresh direction for the long-running satire, while still maintaining some consistency with the show’s current era. The Daily Show is ripe for some reinvention and it’s nice to hear that Comedy Central is thinking outside the box. Having co-anchors has worked for SNL for decades, so why not try it? 🕚

• Alan Moore disparages Watchmen TV show, Damon Lindelof… Lindelof reportedly wrote a letter to Moore when making the series — and Moore basically told him lose my number. Moore never ended up watching Watchmen but said the whole thing was “embarrassing” for him and Lindelof’s premise didn’t understand his original work. It’s a shame Moore is such a curmudgeon, as he missed a fantastic show that reinterpreted and remixed his graphic novel for the modern day. I’m on Team “Damon Lindelof did nothing wrong.” 🦑

• Sacha Baron Cohen might be joining the MCU… He’s rumored for the Ironheart series as comics villain Mephisto! Fans have been wrongly speculating about Mephisto entering the the Marvel live-action world since WandaVision, to the point where it’s become a joke to even bring him up. How fitting then that master of the comedic long con might end up in the role. 😈

• Damien Chazelle’s Babylon will now go wide at Christmas… It was previously set for a platform release (limited on Dec. 25, wide Jan. 6), but I guess Paramount is feeling confident in this star-studded affair. Maybe they didn’t see what just happened to Amsterdam? 🤔

• WB and Henry Cavill are discussing a Man of Steel sequel… Yeah, it’s probably about time for another Superman movie. I’ll wait to see who’s writing and directing before passing judgement. 👓

• Ryan Murphy currently holds the No. 1 and No. 2 spots on Netflix… Which is why the streamer signed him to a nine-figure deal back in 2018. It’s all about the ROI. 🍿

• Zoë Kravitz co-wrote 2 songs on Taylor Swift’s upcoming album… I’d say Kravitz has a hidden talent, but is it hidden if it runs in the family? 🎵

• Simu Liu to lead Seven Wonders series at Amazon… Liu himself is the 8th wonder. 📺

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What’s new

• Somebody Feed Phil s6 — Oct 18 | Netflix travel and food series | 🍅

• The School for Good and Evil — Oct 19 | Netflix family film | 🍅

• Inside Amy Schumer s5 — Oct 20 | Paramount+ sketch series | 🍅

• The Peripheral — Oct 21 | Amazon sci-fi series | 🍅

• Ticket to Paradise — Oct 21 | Romantic comedy in theaters | 🍅 67%

• Black Adam — Oct 21 | Super hero film in theaters | 🍅

• The Banshees of Inisherin — Oct 21 | Irish dramedy in theaters | 🍅 100%

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What to watch

Trailer: Creed III — March 3 in theaters

Directed by Michael B. Jordan, written by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin, story by Ryan Coogler, Keenan Coogler, and Zach Baylin, starring Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, and Florian Munteanu.

I definitely saw Creed. It was good, it was like the Top Gun: Maverick of its day (2015), successfully cashing in on audience nostalgia while standing on its own with rich new characters and engaging storytelling. I don’t think I saw Creed II. It apparently came out in 2018 and was about Creed fighting Viktor Drago, the son of Ivan Drago. But I’m intrigued by Creed III for two reasons, Jonathan and Majors. He’s simply one of the most dynamic and watchable performers we have right now and his star is rising exponentially by the day. Coogler, Coogler, and Baylin have cooked up what appears to be a serviceable plot (Creed’s old friend reemerges, their tensions lead to a big fight) that should provide room for the Rocky/Creed/sports movie essentials: dramatic interpersonal conflict and athletic action sequences. This will also be Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut, and while he’ll have to fit the movie into the mold of the previous films, it should give us an idea of his talents as a director.

For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!