What to know
Francis Ford Coppola eyes big stars for self-funded Megalopolis… Coppola, 82, has been working on his modern take on the Roman epic for decades now, but with casting news and word that he’ll be pouring in as much as $120 million of his own money, it seems like it’s really happening. He’s reportedly in talks with Oscar Isaac, Forest Whitaker, Cate Blanchett, Jon Voight, Zendaya, Michelle Pfeiffer, James Caan, and Jessica Lange. That’s an amazing cast… should this actually happen. Also, I’m not sure why he’s spending his own money to do it. Creative control? 🎥
Rocketeer sequel eyed at Disney+ with David Oyelowo… Before the Avengers, Disney had the Rocketeer. This sequel is giving me big Tron: Legacy vibes. The public didn’t take to Disney’s attempt at reviving that live-action cult fav — but maybe because this is aimed at Disney+, it’s a safer bet. 🏰
Fresh Prince drama remake finds its fresh prince… Get this, he’s from Philadelphia and his actual last name is Banks. The more I think about it, the more a dramatic version of Fresh Prince makes sense. I mean The O.C. is basically a dramatic white people version of the same story 👑
More HBO Max viewers watched The Suicide Squad than WW1984 and the Snyder cut… It seems to me the difference was marketing and good word-of-mouth 💥
Lord Miller producing movie about Dennis Rodman’s famous Vegas bender… these guys know how to pick stories 🏀
Mike Richards fired from EP jobs at Jeopardy! and Wheel… see ya! ✌️
Josh Peck joins How I Met Your Father in recurring role… he’s definitely the father 🤔
Dropping this week:
Only Murders in the Building — Aug 31 Hulu comedy series | RT 100%
Dug Days — Sept 1 Disney+ Pixar shorts
What We Do in the Shadows s3 premiere — Sept 2 FX/Hulu comedy series | RT 100%
Shang-Chi— Sept 3 in theaters Marvel movie | RT 92%
Cinderella — Sept 3 Amazon musical feature | RT
Billions s5.2 premiere — Sept 5 Showtime drama series | RT 86%
What to watch
I like travelogue shows. Sometimes they’re high-minded, but for the most part they’re light watching, they’re informative, and they’re fun. None more so than Netflix’s joyful Somebody Feed Phil.
Whether he’s in Bangkok or Brooklyn, Phil Rosenthal’s message is usually the same: Enjoy life, travel, eat good food, talk to people. He might not be as anthropologically serious as Padma Lakshmi, Anthony Bourdain, or Stephen Satterfield (High on the Hog), but his infectious enthusiasm more than makes up for it. Some travel hosts struggle to communicate the first bite of a delicious meal — Phil’s massive blue eyes go wide and his entire face lights up. He has perfected the art of gracious, exuberant eating. Everything is the best thing he’s ever had — and you believe him.
But it’s more than just joy that sets this travel series apart. Phil comes from a comedy background (he co-created Everybody Loves Raymond) so naturally his road show has a few more jokes than your average travelogue. His narration provides the jokes, while filmed video calls with his parents back home are always a comedic standout. Additionally, Phil brings a sense of improvisation to this format that I hadn’t really seen before. While most travel shows feel produced and written to the second, Somebody Feed Phil makes time for spontaneous interactions with locals and fellow travelers. In that way, it feels like traveling. You’ve got an itinerary, but it could go off the rails at any moment.
At a time when international travel is still difficult, Phil’s journeys offer us rose-colored wanderlust. He tends to smooth over some rough edges in places, but if you look at the world through his eyes, you’ll suddenly feel a lot more optimistic about humanity. And, oh yeah, it's got the best theme song.
For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!