Netflix saves Disney's axed queer toon
And is Stranger Things making a grave Star Wars mistake?
What to know
Nimona saved by Netflix after Disney scrapped half-finished LGBTQ+ animated film… Hey, remember when Disney bought Fox for $71.3 billion in 2019 and then it shut down Fox animation company Blue Sky Studios in 2021? One of the projects Blue Sky had in production at the time was Nimona, a gorgeous-looking feature about “a young shape-shifter in a techno-medieval world” that “tackles themes of queerness and identity.” The film had just 10 months left of production when the Mouse canceled it completely. Yikes. But wait, is that Netflix’s music?! Ever the project un-canceller, the world’s biggest streamer has decided to revive Nimona and put it out in 2023. What a lovely happy ending! 🍿
Stranger Things season 4 will finally explain what’s going on in Hawkins… I thought we already knew what was going on in Hawkins but apparently there’s more explanation to be had. The Duffers for example say they have answers for what The Upsidedown actually is. I don’t know, this sounds a lot like midichlorians to me. Some soft sci-fi concepts are best left unexplained. 🙃
Christopher Lloyd, Rachel Leigh Cook to star in Spirit Halloween movie… Yes, based on those stores that pop up in vacant retail locations every September. This family-friendly horror will focus on 3 kids trapped overnight in a haunted Spirit location. Just when you think Hollywood has run out of things to adapt, it turns to stores. As Will Ferrell once said, “I’m not even mad, that’s amazing.” 🎃
Will Ferrell cast in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie… Speaking of which, Ferrell is joining Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrara, Kate McKinnon and Simu Liu in Barbie. What a cast. One can only hope Ferrell will bring some Mugatu energy to this. 💅🏻
Peacock developing live-action Casper series… I am running out of ways to chastise desperate IP plays. Try harder Peacock, next time adapt a retail store into a show or something. 👻
Apple TV+’s For All Mankind returns for season 3 this summer… Yes! Please, please, please check out this show. It’s a truly underrated hidden gem. 🚀
A new David Lynch movie might be on the way… But will it be weirder than Spirit Halloween? Yes, most likely, yes. 🌊
Sonic 2 breaks video game movie box office record with $67M weekend… Very happy for Ben Schwartz right now. 🎮
[Redacted spoilers] are confirmed for the final season of Better Call Saul… This is probably the least surprising news of the day. ⚖️
Brie Larson is joining Fast and Furious 10… Some people just want all the franchises. 🚗
Curb Your Enthusiasm returning for 12th season… Pretty pretty pretty good! 👏
It appears Al Pacino has a Shrek phone case… Say hello to his little friend. 📱
What’s new
Killing It - Apr 14 | Peacock comedy series | 🍅
Swimming With Sharks - Apr 15 | Roku drama series | 🍅 67%
The First Lady - Apr 17 | Showtime drama series | 🍅
What to watch
Maybe you saw people tweeting about Severance this weekend? That’s because this Black Mirror-esque psychological sci-fi drama just wrapped up its first season with one of the most jaw-dropping, pulse-pounding finales in recent memory. Apple TV+ has yet another buzzy hit on its hands — and the good news is, the hype is completely warranted. Director/exec producer Ben Stiller and creator Dan Erickson have weaved a devilishly original, deeply mind-bending new take on office life and being human in a capitalist society, anchored by a genius and intricately thought out high concept. The banal and the strange collide in an eerily drab office purgatory where mysteries lie down every fluorescent corridor, where its twists will rock you just as hard as its themes. Adam Scott is at the center in a role he was born to play, dry, humble, and kind but hiding a melancholy behind the eyes. Britt Lower, Tramell Tillman, and Zach Cherry fire off breakout, instantly connecting performances, while vets Patricia Arquette, John Turtorr, and Christopher Walken bring it home. You might have also heard some of the comparisons to Lost. Indeed, it’s a worthy analogy. Between this, Squid Game, and Station Eleven, it appears the TV industry has finally figured out what made Lost special. Yes, high concepts and mystery box what-the-fuckery hook viewers, but when you ground it in relatable, flawed human characters and authentically weave in and reflect the struggles of their everyday lives — that holds the true magic. It took 10 years, but the show that launched a million woeful imitators finally got some noteworthy heirs. The one area of concern with Severance, like Lost, is that it won’t be able to deliver on some of its more preposterous mysteries and in turn could be setting itself up to disappoint. Can we trust in Erickson and Stiller? When the mysteries are this delicious and the show has proved so deft at handling everything else so far, yes, we can.
For all past ‘what to watch’ recommendations, see the full list here!