Moviefone Editorial

Tag: blindspotting

  • ‘Heels’ Cancelled After Two Seasons

    Alexander Ludwig and Stephen Amell in 'Heels.'
    (L to R) Alexander Ludwig and Stephen Amell in ‘Heels.’ Photo: Starz.

    In line with a number of other networks and streaming services, Starz has cancelled some of its shows –– and has shut down another before it even had a chance to arrive on the channel.

    The channel announced that wrestling drama ‘Heels’, which stars Stephen Amell and has just finished its second season, will face the axe alongside ‘Run The World’ and ‘Blindspotting’, both of which had also run for two seasons.

    Then we have romance-with-a-twist series ‘The Venery of Samantha Bird’, which was in production (though had paused for the strikes) with two episodes left to shoot. It now won’t air at all on the channel.

    ‘Heels’ boss Mike O’Malley on future plans

    Mary McCormack in 'Heels.'
    (Center) Mary McCormack in ‘Heels.’ Photo: Starz.

    ‘Heels’ Showrunner and head writer Mike O’Malley (who also plays Charlie Gully on the show) is committed to finding a home for the series elsewhere, as he told Entertainment Weekly:

    “I really do think it’s going to have a life someplace else. We did not intend, nor do we intend, for the season 2 finale to be the last episode of the show.”

    O’Malley also addressed his colleague Amell’s comments about the recent strikes.

    Related Article: Stephen Amell of ‘Heels’ Attacks SAG-AFTRA Strike as ‘Reductive Negotiating Tactic’

    What did Stephen Amell say about the actors’ strike?

    Stephen Amell stars in Starz's 'Heels.'
    Stephen Amell stars in Starz’s ‘Heels.’

    You may recall that, back in August, ‘Heels’ stars Stephen Amell spoke out against the strike during a convention appearance.

    Here’s what he said, as reported by Variety:

    “I support my union, I do. And I stand with them. I do not support striking. I don’t. I think that it is a reductive negotiating tactic. I find the entire thing incredibly frustrating. I think the thinking as it pertains to shows — like the show that I’m on that premiered last night (Starz’ wrestling series ‘Heels’, which launched its second season) — I think it’s myopic.”

    O’Malley has weighed in on that, talking about how he got in touch with Amell to help him see that his comments weren’t helpful.

    He had this to say to Entertainment Weekly:

    “Well, I called Stephen and I spoke to him about it. What he was trying to talk about is that he loved the show, and he had an incredible pride in the show. We knew that his comments were going to distract from the hard work that the people in both the WGA, of which I’m a member, and SAG-AFTRA, were doing. And I knew that immediately because I had been on the picket line. When I heard and I called him up, I said, ‘Stephen, man, we all got to stand together.’ He got it immediately. I just think it was an unfortunate moment. I genuinely think that he put his foot in his mouth. He felt bad about it. I think he was basically saying was what a lot of people were saying, which was that they were frustrated that they couldn’t work. But I know where his heart is, and his heart is standing with his union.”

    Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig in 'Heels.'
    (L to R) Stephen Amell and Alexander Ludwig in ‘Heels.’ Photo: Starz.

    Stephen Amell Movies:

    Buy Stephen Amell Movies On Amazon

    Click on the video player below to watch our interviews with the cast of ‘Heels.’

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  • ‘Blindspotting’ Season 2 Interview: Helen Hunt

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    Premiering on Starz beginning April 14th is the second season of the TV series ‘Blindspotting,’ which is a spin-off/sequel of the popular movie of the same name from actors, writers and executive producers Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs.

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    What is the premise of the show ‘Blindspotting?’

    Six months after the events in the movie, Miles (Rafael Casal), Ashley’s (Jasmine Cephas Jones) partner of 12 years and father of their son, is suddenly incarcerated, and the situation leaves her to navigate a chaotic and humorous existential crisis when she and her son Sean (Atticus Woodward) are forced to move in with Miles’ mother (Candace Nicholas-Lippman) and half-sister (Jaylen Barron).

    Who is in the cast of ‘Blindspotting?’

    ‘Blindspotting’ stars Jasmine Cephas Jones (‘Hamilton‘) as Ashley Rose, Jaylen Barron (‘Shameless’) as Trish, Candace Nicholas-Lippman (‘Grey’s Anatomy’) as Janelle, Benjamin Earl Turner (‘Snowfall’) as Earl, Atticus Woodward (‘MO’) as Sean, Leland Orser (‘Taken‘) as Carl, Anthony Ramos (‘A Star is Born‘) as Yorkie, Oscar-winner Helen Hunt (‘Twister‘) as Rainey, and Rafael Casal reprising his role from the film as Miles.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Helen Hunt about her work on ‘Blindspotting’ Season 2, what fans can expect from the new season, her character, balancing comedy and drama, receiving the show’s scripts, and working with series creators Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs.

    Helen Hunt in Starz's 'Blindspotting' season 2.
    Helen Hunt in Starz’s ‘Blindspotting’ season 2.

    You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Hunt, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Jaylen Barron, Candace Nicholas-Lippman, Benjamin Earl Turner, Rafael Casal, and Daveed Diggs about ‘Blindspotting’ Season 2.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what can you tell us about the plot of ‘Blindspotting’ Season 2?

    Helen Hunt: We pick up with Jasmine’s character, who’s at the center of the show, right on the edge. My character is pretty much on the edge, although she puts a happier, funnier wrapping around it and through the course of these episodes, everybody expresses the best and the worst of themselves. Nobody does well in a family when one of their members is put in a cage.

    MF: Can you talk about the challenges of balancing the show’s comedy and drama?

    HH: Somehow this show manages to be about this devastating, exquisitely painful topic while being sitcom level funny and there’s dance and there’s poetry. So I just feel like it’s just this offering of art, beauty and humor that I hope people, those who didn’t watch last year, catch up quick and jump in because I’m really proud to be part of it.

    Margo Hall, Helen Hunt, and Jasmine Cephas Jones star in Starz's 'Blindspotting' Season 2.
    (L to R) Margo Hall, Helen Hunt, and Jasmine Cephas Jones star in Starz’s ‘Blindspotting’ Season 2.

    Related Article: A Sequel to 1996’s ‘Twister’ is Spinning Up at Universal, and Helen Hunt Could Return

    MF: In the new season we discover that Rainey no longer believes in God. Is that because of what happened to Miles?

    HH: That’s a good question. I think what I played is that that was never a really strong lane for her but that she is in such despair, she actually has to go, “I don’t know if you’re up there, but help.” So she is on her knees because she’s on her knees.

    MF: What’s the status of Rainey and Ashley’s relationship in Season 2?

    HH: You’ve got to watch all the way to the end to find out. I mean, again, having the person in the center of your family airlifted out and locked away is going to make everyone pray and grab at their chance to spend time with him. The best of people come out in this show and the worst of people, and that’s sort of what the season is. I think it’s like my character does a lot of trying to keep the spirit of the family up and the spirit of the grandson up, and while that doesn’t go away in season two, there’s some big angry cracks in it.

    Daveed Diggs, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Rafael Casal on the set of Starz's 'Blindspotting.'
    (L to R) Daveed Diggs, Jasmine Cephas Jones, and Rafael Casal on the set of Starz’s ‘Blindspotting.’

    MF: What’s it like working with series creators Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs, who also wrote the film that the show is based on?

    HH: I mean, it’s everything. This show is literally born out of their friendship, their home, their love of Oakland and their love of family, so the show lives in the space between them and inside them. So I’ve just tried my best to soak that up and express it on film.

    MF: Finally, how much were you told about your character’s full arc for this season before you began shooting? Were you given all the scripts at once, or did you only receive them before shooting the next episode?

    HH: Somewhere in between. You don’t have all of them, for sure. Every show starts off wanting to do that and no show can do that. It’s just too hard because every script goes through ideas, then outlines, then first drafts, then they’re rewritten, then the showrunners look at them and then the actors look. So there’s no way to get them all. But showrunning is a really tricky job. You have to be the creative force and the administrator who makes sure things are happening on time and talks to the network, and they just did that flawlessly and I’ve seen it done by a lot of people, but never better than by the two of them. We talked through where she’s headed. I knew where it was going. I had a meeting with the writers at the beginning of the season where they asked questions and I talked about the things that I’m interested in seeing in her. So by the time we started, I knew what I needed to know about where it was going. it’s been very collaborative from the beginning. I just wanted to be sure that I could step out of my own Birkenstocks and into her Birkenstocks and believe 100% what I was doing. So they were willing to and wanting to be super collaborative about it.

    Helen Hunt and Candace Nicholas-Lippman star in Starz's 'Blindspotting' season 2.
    (L to R) Helen Hunt and Candace Nicholas-Lippman star in Starz’s ‘Blindspotting’ season 2.

    Movies Similar to ‘Blindspotting:’

    Buy Helen Hunt Movies on Amazon

  • ‘Extrapolations’ Interview: Daveed Diggs Talks Apple TV+ Series

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    Premiering March 17th on Apple TV+ is the new series ‘’Extrapolations,’ which was created by Scott Z. Burns (‘Contagion’).

    What is the plot of ‘Extrapolations?’

    ‘Extrapolations’ is an anthology series that depicts the effects of climate change on the planet through various different points of view through interconnected stories.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Extrapolations?’

    ‘Extrapolations’ stars an all-star cast that includes Oscar winners Meryl Streep (‘The Devil Wears Prada‘), Marion Cotillard (‘The Dark Knight Rises‘), and Forest Whitaker (‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story‘), as well as Edward Norton (‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery‘), Sienna Miller (‘Foxcatcher‘), Kit Harrington (‘Eternals‘), Diane Lane (‘Man of Steel‘), Daveed Diggs (‘Hamilton‘), Matthew Rhys (‘Cocaine Bear‘), Gemma Chan (‘Crazy Rich Asians‘), David Schwimmer (‘Apt Pupil‘), Keri Russell (‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker‘), Eliza Gonzalez (‘Ambulance‘), Heather Graham (‘Boogie Nights‘), Cherry Jones (‘Motherless Brooklyn‘), Judd Hirsch (‘The Fabelmans‘), Indira Varma (‘Basic Instinct 2’), Tahar Rahim (‘Mary Magdalene’), Michael Gandolfini (‘The Many Saints of Newark‘), and Tobey Maguire (‘Babylon‘).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Daveed Diggs about his work on ‘’Extrapolations’,’ his character, the story and working with Scott Z. Burns.

    Daveed Diggs stars in 'Extrapolations,' premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
    Daveed Diggs stars in ‘Extrapolations,’ premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch out interviews with Diggs, Indira Varma, Tahar Rahim, Scott Z. Burns and executive producers Michael Ellenberg and Dorthey Fortenberry.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction when you read Scott Z. Burns’ script for this series?

    Daveed Diggs: I mean, I was really invested in the character. I got sent the scripts, and I just thought he was awesome. Then understanding the totality of the series, the same thing. It does be making me Google things and I think that’s really an important aspect of it. I think we want something that’s entertaining enough that it sticks with you and then as it sticks with you, it starts to seep in. You can be like, what don’t I know about this that I should probably know? I think Marshall being part of the first third of this, there is that little hopeful element of we could actually not do this. We could not end up there. We just have to all decide. Actually, all of us have to decide that we don’t want to be there, which is a tricky ask.

    Meryl Streep in 'Extrapolations,' premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
    Meryl Streep in ‘Extrapolations,’ premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.

    MF: Can you talk about how the events of the series change your character’s plans for the future?

    DD: He’s already 20 years down the road, but I think Marshall is hopeful. Ultimately, it’s about people. So the big question of it is, how could God do this to us? How could God allow this to happen? Those are the questions that this little girl is asking. He doesn’t have an answer to it until he comes to the realization that he already knew when he was younger, when he was an activist, which was like, actually we have to do it and God’s been saying that. He said that to Moses.

    Daveed Diggs in 'Extrapolations,' premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
    Daveed Diggs in ‘Extrapolations,’ premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.

    Related Article: Vincent Cassel Talks Apple TV+’s ‘Liaison’ 

    MF: How would you describe your character, Marshall?

    DD: Marshall’s a rabbi, so he’s a faith leader. When we meet him, he is working in Israel and is a big activist on climate and a whole bunch of other things. Then we flash forward a bunch of years and we meet him again. He’s moved back to Miami and he is running the congregation there, and he’s become a little more apathetic despite still being a leader of faith and really passionate about his community. But in terms of his activism, he’s sort of fallen off. Then a little girl about to have her Bat Mitzvah comes in and starts challenging all of his apathy. It’s a good way to raise the stakes of a crisis of faith, to be actually met with the flood. It’s just good writing. It really, and that’s why I was attracted to it.

    Edward Norton and Mia Maestro in 'Extrapolations,' premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Edward Norton and Mia Maestro in ‘Extrapolations,’ premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.

    MF: Finally, how would you describe the series, in your own words?

    DD: I mean, it is sci-fi, I guess, that’s the closest thing, or climate fiction. That that’s a whole sub-genre, cli-fi is a whole thing. But I think speculative fiction is looking forward to a future that we are not yet in, but it is grounded in a lot of practical, as Scott’s work tends to be grounded in a lot of practical, real world contemporary science and the most current version of all of these things. So, that’s what makes it scary is that we know that this is a real possibility.

    'Extrapolations,' premieres March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
    ‘Extrapolations,’ premieres March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.

    Movies Similar to ‘Extrapolations:’

    Buy Daveed Diggs Movies on Amazon

  • What’s New on Digital, DVD/Blu-ray, TV, & Netflix This Week: November 19-25

    What’s New on Digital, DVD/Blu-ray, TV, & Netflix This Week: November 19-25

    Crazy Rich Asians
    Warner Bros.

    At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what’s streaming on Netflix, we’ve got you covered.

    NEW ON DVD AND BLU-RAY

    ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ (November 20)

    The romantic comedy genre got some much-needed revitalization thanks to this fizzy, fun blockbuster that also happened to be the first major studio film to star an all-Asian cast in 25 years. “Crazy Rich Asians” centers on Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), a Chinese-American professor who journeys to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick (Henry Golding). There, she discovers Nick’s family is very wealthy — and don’t approve of their relationship.

    The movie arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on November 20 (and is already available on Digital HD). Blu-ray bonus features include commentary by director Jon M. Chu and novelist Kevin Kwan, a gag reel, and deleted scenes.

    Watch the stars talk about sharing Asian culture with audiences:

    ‘Kin’ (November 20)

    In this low budget sci-fi thriller (from the producers of “Stranger Things”), a teen and his ex-con brother find a powerful weapon that sends them on the run from nefarious forces. Turn it on for the cool concept (and the killer score by indie mainstays Mogwai), stay for the very unexpected cameo.

    The movie arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and On Demand on November 20 (and is already available on Digital HD). Bonus features include an eight-part documentary, ten deleted scenes, and the original short upon which the film is based.

    ‘Blindspotting’ (November 20)

    Real-life friends Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal wrote, produced, and star in this dramedy set in their hometown of Oakland. The story follows a parolee in his last days of probation, who is rattled after witnessing a police shooting. The emotional fallout threatens a lifelong friendship. Diggs and Casal have said they intended to provide a true portrayal of Oakland, which they felt was misrepresented in film.

    The movie arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on November 20 (and is already available on Digital HD).

    NEW VIDEO ON DEMAND, STREAMING, AND DIGITAL

    ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ (November 20)

    With each “Mission: Impossible” movie, Tom Cruise puts himself further in harm’s way. In “Fallout,” now available on Digital HD, he jumps out of planes, races across Paris on a motorcycle, runs across rooftops (and breaking his ankle in the process), and flies a helicopter.  At this point, aside from being one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, he’s also probably one of its top stuntmen.

    Watch Cruise and co-star Henry Cavill talk about the insane helicopter scene:

    ‘The Nun’ (November 20)

    “The Conjuring” universe just keeps getting bigger and scarier. In this spinoff, a priest with a haunted past and a novice are sent by the Vatican to investigate the death of a nun in Romania.

    They uncover an unholy secret and are forced to confront a malevolent force. Not only are their lives at risk — so are their very souls. Don’t watch this at night. Available on Digital HD.

    ‘Peppermint’ (November 20)

    Jennifer Garner rediscovers herself as an action star in this vigilante movie. She shows off her bicep guns, much like in her “Alias” days, as a mother who hones a special set of skills so she can target the cartel responsible for killing her daughter and husband. Available on Digital HD.

    NEW ON NETFLIX

    ‘Trevor Noah: Son of Patricia’ (November 20)

    The “Daily Show” host releases his second stand-up special for the streaming service, which touches on racism, immigration, camping and more.

    ‘The Final Table’ (November 20)

    Netflix unveils its first culinary competition show, which is sort of like an international version of “Top Chef.” In this ten-episode series, 24 cooks chop, sauté, and braise against each other in challenges judged by nine of the world’s most acclaimed chefs.

    ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Gauntlet’ (November 22)

    The 12th season of the beloved series brings back Jonah Ray and his robot sidekick, who are forced by Felicia Day to watch and mock bad movies.

    For more, see what else is new on Netflix in November 2018.

    TV WORTH WATCHING

    ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Season 27 Finale, ABC (November 19)

    The four remaining couples will cha-cha, salsa, and waltz their hearts out for that ultimate of prizes: the mirrorball trophy. The celebs still in content are “Harry Potter” actress Evanna Lynch, model Alexis Ren, Disney Channel star Milo Manheim, and radio personality Bobby Bones.

    ‘The Walking Dead’ Season 9 Finale, AMC (November 25)

    With new threats looming, the communities of Alexandria, the Hilltop, and the Kingdom must find a way to come together if they are to survive.

    ‘Dirty John’ Series Premiere, Bravo (November 25)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-dUiO1ZV1s

    This true crime drama, based on a popular podcast, stars Connie Britton as an interior designer who meets a handsome doctor named John (Eric Bana) and impulsively marries him just weeks into their relationship. Then, she discovers John is not at all who he seems to be and finds a trail of lies, drug abuse, and toxic relationships.