A Potter TV show materializes

And 'Walking Dead' star joins big Marvel film

What to know

• Hogwarts Legacy show reportedly in development at HBO Max… Finally! A Wizarding World TV show! Putting aside the J.K. Rowling of it all, it’s good to see WBD at last bringing its biggest IP to television, especially with the way Fantastic Beasts has turned out. While this hasn't been officially announced yet, it makes absolute sense that WBD would look to a video game after its stunning Last of Us success. Hogwarts Legacy has sold 12 million copies in its first two weeks, grossing $850 million — a.k.a. it’s popular. It should be interesting to see how TV writers adapt an action RPG that lets you create your own character and dictate their path. For comparison, Last of Us has pre-determined heroes. Hopefully HBO Max gets someone as good as Craig Mazin to take on Hogwarts. 🧙🏻‍♀️

• Warner Bros. to make more Lord of the Rings movies… Speaking of fantasy franchises, WBD saw Amazon’s success with Rings of Power and was like, not so fast — don’t we have some of those rights? Indeed they do, thanks to a new deal with Embracer Group. WB can adapt the third age of Tolkein’s stories (Amazon has the 2nd age), so it’s possible we’ll see some of the series’ most beloved characters. Like reincarnated wizards and faceless horse-riding ghosts, big IP never stays dead for long. 💍

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• Netflix is dropping its prices in 100 international markets… But not in the U.S. or western Europe, so don’t get too excited. How and why is it doing this at a time when the streaming business is desperately trying to make more money? As to not anger customers worldwide, it seems. Lower prices could make the password sharing crackdown easier to swallow and keep Netflix competitive as inflation hits spending habits. 🍿

• After slap, Oscars prepping “crisis team”… Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. Though one has to wonder why such a risk management team wasn’t in place in year’s past — especially with a live broadcast. After last year, I would be really surprised if anything truly wacky happened at this year’s Academy Awards. 🏆

• Netflix re-ups 1899 creators with 8-figure deal… It’s nice to see that even though 1899 was canceled, Netflix is staying in the Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese business. The duo will tackle a live-action transfer of comic book Something Is Killing the Children next. 🔺

• Poker Face lands at no. 3 on Nielsen’s streaming originals chart, Peacock’s highest rated series… Look at that, Peacock finally got a hit. Good for you, Peacock! I guess that’s what you get when you pay up for top talent (Rian Johnson, Natasha Lyonne, every other massive guest star) and let them cook. Way to go, Peacock. 🦚

• Leonard Bernstein’s estate is now defending Lydia Tár after director Todd Field threw doubt on the pair’s relationship… Also Lydia Tar is still a fictional character and this joke has gotten way out of hand. 🎼

• Alison Brie, Jake Lacy board Peacock miniseries adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s Apples Never Fall… Apples and brie, always a winning combo. 🍎🧀

• X-Men ‘97 is reportedly still on track to hit Disney+ this fall… So not all Marvel shows are getting delayed, I guess. ✚

• Hacks pauses production as Jean Smart recovers from heart procedure… Wishing her an easy and fast recovery! ❤️

• Senators call on Justice Dept. to do something about LiveNation and Ticketmaster… Call me cynical, but I don’t think anything is going to come from any of this. 🎫

• Steve Yeun joins Marvel’s Thunderbolts in key role… Ooo, nice. Let’s hope his role is a little more instrumental than William Jackson Harper’s was in Quantumania. 👏

• Alexander Payne’s new movie The Holdovers headed for theaters this Thanksgiving… So after leftovers, enjoy The Holdovers. 🦃

• Steve Rogers musical from Hawkeye is getting real-lifed at Disneyland… This is such a wacky idea, but it just might work. 🇺🇸

• Rihanna is going to perform at the Oscars… The woman likes to be busy on Sunday nights. 🎶

• HBO Max orders It prequel series… Float on. 🎈

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What’s new

• Liaison — Feb 24 | Apple TV+ drama series | 🍅 40%

• We Have a Ghost — Feb 24 | Netflix comedy film | 🍅

• Party Down s3 — Feb 24 | Starz comedy series | 🍅 95%

• Cocaine Bear — Feb 24 | Action comedy in theaters | 🍅 74%

• SAG Awards — Feb 26 | Award show on Netflix’s YouTube page

• Returning: Outer Banks s3, Bel-Air s2

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What to watch

Trailer: Carmen — April 21 in limited theaters

Directed by Benjamin Millepied, written by Alexander Dinelaris Jr., Millepied, and Loïc Barrère, starring Melissa Barrera, Paul Mescal, and Rossy de Palma.

What if a movie musical, but gritty? This iteration of Carmen is based on the Frank Wildhorn, Jack Murphy and Norman Allen musical as well as the well-known 1875 opera, and incorporates music from both, plus new compositions from Nicholas Britell (Succession), Julieta Venegas, and Taura Stinson. That’s a lot of cooks in the musical kitchen but choreographer-turned first-time director Benjamin Millepied clearly has a vision for this and it’s a compelling one. The grounded production design and visual style feels fresh in the land of the glossy movie musical, and Millepied’s lyrical choreography feels stark and pronounced among such a backdrop. Paul Mescal’s star is quickly rising — though I have no idea if he can sing. Let’s keep an eye on this one.

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